Ethan began his first day in the kingdom by observing the capital’s main marketplace. The robed mages who summoned him watched from a distance but let him move freely. They knew he needed to see the real conditions not a filtered report. Ethan walked through the busy square taking note of every unusual detail. Magic crystals floated above vendor stalls lighting the area with a pale glow. Merchants argued with customers over inconsistent prices. Some guild banners hung proudly while others had been torn down as if sabotage was common

He stepped near a stall selling enchanted tools. The merchant looked tired

How much for this mana chisel Ethan asked

The merchant frowned at his question. That depends on the guild fee today

Ethan paused. The guild fee changes every day

The merchant nodded. Sometimes twice a day

Ethan exhaled slowly. A price system that unstable meant no one could plan invest or even trade rationally. He turned to another stall where a woman sold basic bread infused with a small amount of mana so it stayed warm longer

What does this cost Ethan asked

She hesitated glancing around. Three silver or five silver depending on whether the noble inspectors appear today

He blinked. The tax rate changes when nobles walk by

She shrugged like it was normal. They collect whatever they feel is fair

This was worse than he expected

He continued observing. A group of carpenters tried to buy lumber but their payment was rejected. Their coins were from another city and not recognized here. Every region of the kingdom issued its own currency some paperlike some metal some magically stamped and none accepted outside their borders. It was the perfect recipe for trade paralysis. Ethan could practically feel the friction costs rising with every transaction

The robed mage approached him. Do you see our problem professor

Ethan nodded. You have no unified currency no stable price system no consistent tax structure and no independent institutions to enforce fairness. The economy is running on chaos

The mage sighed. We thought mana was enough. That if we infused our world with magic it would guide everything

Ethan shook his head gently. Magic can empower people but it cannot replace structure. You need a system people can trust

They led him to a tall building overlooking the entire market. Inside dusty books and scrolls filled shelves. This was the Royal Ledger Hall the kingdom’s attempt at keeping records. But after examining the documents Ethan realized every region reported numbers differently. Taxes used inconsistent units. Population counts were estimated by memory. Trade records were symbolic drawings rather than measurable data

This is not a ledger he said. This is a storybook

The mages exchanged embarrassed looks

Ethan began writing on a blank parchment. If he was going to fix this world he needed three pillars. A stable currency. A transparent tax system. And an institution capable of enforcing market rules

The mages watched him draw simple diagrams. They looked at him as if he were casting spells even though he was only using knowledge

First Ethan said you need a single floating currency backed by mana stability not guild power. Something the entire kingdom uses. Something people trust

He drew a symbol for the new currency. The mages leaned forward studying it with awe

Second you need a Magic Market Regulatory Bureau. A group independent of nobles and guilds. They set reporting standards monitor prices and make sure no monopoly can break the system

The mages whispered excitedly

Third Ethan said you need a tax code that is transparent and predictable. If people do not understand it they will fear it. If nobles can change it at will no system can last

The room fell silent. The ideas were simple to Ethan but revolutionary to them

One mage finally spoke. If we do this the nobles will fight us. The guilds too

Ethan nodded. Systems do not collapse because people are evil. They collapse because incentives are misaligned. If we change the structure the behavior will follow

They stared at him with new respect. He was not a mage but his knowledge was reshaping their understanding faster than any spell could. Ethan felt a sense of purpose rising within him. This world was broken but not beyond repair. With enough time data and logic he could rebuild it

He looked out the window at the chaotic marketplace below. People shouting arguing trading with fear rather than trust. He imagined what it could become. A place where prices made sense where currency flowed without friction where taxes were fair and predictable where prosperity was built not by luck but by design

He turned back to the mages. Then let us begin the reforms. The kingdom will resist but change always starts with one step

And so Ethan Ward the economist from another world took his first step toward becoming the architect of a new magical economy