Two days remained until Demo Day and the tension outside ArcSpark grew thicker than mana fog Ethan sensed unrest spreading through the city Mages whispered about unauthorized innovations Merchants gossiped about market disruption Guards wondered whether new industries meant new dangers And the Mage Guild watched from a distance quietly preparing a response

Ethan expected this He had seen resistance in his old world Investors fearing disruption unions fearing automation regulators fearing power shifts But magic made every fear heavier every rumor sharper every reaction faster In a world where arcane forces shaped society even a small change could feel like an earthquake

He began the morning by calling the founders into a tight circle He explained calmly that two groups wanted to speak with him today merchants and guild representatives The founders exchanged nervous glances but Ethan reassured them saying these conversations were signs the accelerator mattered The world rarely feared what was insignificant

While the founders trained inside Ethan stepped outside to meet the first group The merchants returned led by a spice trader with sharp eyes and a heavy ledger They said they still worried about economic shifts They claimed ArcSpark would create unfair advantages Ethan listened and then proposed collaboration He suggested the merchants partner with founders as early distribution channels offering exclusive deals and shared revenue The merchants murmured among themselves The idea intrigued them The spice trader asked for guarantees Ethan offered agreements after Demo Day They left unsure but less hostile

Hours later a representative from the Mage Guild arrived not the magisters from before but an observer named Halven A thin quiet man with silver streaks in his robe Halven asked to speak privately with Ethan They walked to the river where the water shimmered like spinning glass Halven said the Guild did not oppose progress but feared unpredictability Ethan replied that ArcSpark focused on structure and safety not chaos He explained the cycles the tests the regulation they had built themselves Halven admitted he saw discipline in the warehouse but warned that other guild leaders saw danger Ethan answered calmly saying all new systems cause discomfort but discomfort often precedes growth

Halven asked whether Ethan intended to challenge the Guild’s authority Ethan said no he intended to build opportunity The Guild could join or resist The Guild would choose its path Halven nodded then left quietly Ethan sensed he was not an enemy but not yet an ally

Inside the founders continued refining with fierce focus Toren improved his heat precision until his mana cost dropped again Lira perfected dual loop summoning balancing fatigue with precision Velra produced a record number of consistent potions Corren trained his stone lizard on increasingly complex routes Mira refined treatment cycles the rune worker tuned large runes for greater stability and the necromancer created a synchronized triple squirrel courier dance that shocked everyone

Late afternoon brought unexpected visitors rival mages who had watched from afar They demanded to know why ArcSpark attracted customers away from them Ethan addressed them with patience explaining customers chose reliability not spectacle He offered to teach them the value structure but they refused Their pride blocked their ears They left frustrated but muttering that they would return

Evening arrived and Ethan held a full pitch rehearsal Each founder stood before the group voices steady words sharpened confidence strong The warehouse vibrated with energy as demonstrations sparked around them The stone lizard trotted confidently the bird summon loop cycled perfectly the cooling potion glowed evenly the runes shimmered the lantern crystals shone the healing pulses soothed the undead squirrels scurried in rhythmic formation Ethan felt the room thrum with possibility

He ended the rehearsal with calm steady words saying Two days remain Protect your focus Do not let fear or pride distract you You are not performing magic You are building value The founders repeated the phrase like a mantra

Outside the moon hung low and bright Ethan felt forces converging merchants guilds rivals citizens But inside ArcSpark he felt only momentum and purpose The founders were no longer uncertain beginners They were builders of a new magical future and no opposition could suppress the spark they carried

He whispered Two days And the realm will see what innovation truly means