The morning after Demo Day the city felt almost electrified Word about ArcSpark spread through markets taverns guild halls and guard posts Everyone talked about it Some praised the founders Some questioned the changes Some feared instability But no one ignored it That alone marked a shift larger than any Ethan expected Founders arrived early buzzing with energy eager to hear feedback unsure whether they had won allies or created enemies

Ethan gathered them in a circle He congratulated them stating they had achieved something rare real market validation Not applause Not spectacle Not empty praise They had gained attention and reaction from every major group in the kingdom The founders stood taller each letting the weight of those words sink in Some looked excited others overwhelmed but all of them felt changed

Toren explained that several blacksmiths requested weekly contracts He could barely process that he could earn actual steady income from magic used with precision not dramatic explosions Ethan nodded telling him this was only the beginning Toren felt tears gather in his eyes but he wiped them away quickly

Lira said adventurers asked about regular message loops Some even offered coin upfront Ethan praised her for creating the first scalable communication system in the realm Lira looked stunned realizing she had built something bigger than she ever imagined

Velra said cookware merchants wanted exclusive rights to her potions Ethan told her to negotiate but keep equity and control Velra nodded fiercely ready to defend her creation Corren said multiple shopkeepers asked for trial deliveries Ethan told him to start with the simplest route and scale from there Mira said guards wanted ongoing treatment cycles She worried she could not manage demand Ethan assured her they would build a system together

The rune engraver and crystal tuner said lantern merchants wanted to buy entire crates of stabilization tiles Ethan warned them to measure supply capacity first They agreed whispering about forming a joint company The necromancer said quietly that children asked to see his squirrels again and one merchant wanted to hire them for secure micro deliveries Ethan placed a hand on his shoulder telling him his work had value The necromancer bowed deeply

Then Ethan explained the part they all feared The Guild had requested a meeting not for punishment but for evaluation Founders stiffened in worry Ethan reassured them saying the Guild had seen discipline not recklessness They had seen structure not danger But he also explained that some guild leaders feared losing control and would challenge ArcSpark in the coming days The founders understood conflict was inevitable Innovation always threatened old systems

Ethan outlined next steps Build pilot programs Draft early agreements Map customer segments Prepare for regulatory challenges The founders wrote everything down as if preparing for battle Their energy shifted from nervous excitement to determined purpose

By midday merchants arrived outside ArcSpark again but this time not to complain They came seeking partnership Some wanted early contracts Some wanted exclusive deals Some wanted to invest Ethan met each one carefully explaining terms emphasizing long term value not quick gains Customers left satisfied and impressed with ArcSpark’s clarity

Later in the afternoon adventurers visited requesting messaging services Mira treated tired guards Corren tested new delivery patterns Lira expanded her loops The warehouse buzzed like a living marketplace built on innovation not tradition Ethan watched in awe ArcSpark had matured overnight into something powerful

But as evening approached the shadows lengthened A group of robed figures stood across the river Their presence silent but heavy Ethan recognized them at once Guild magisters discussing watching calculating They whispered among themselves Some pointed at the warehouse Others glared Ethan understood the battle ahead would not be simple The Guild feared losing its monopoly not on magic but on authority

He returned inside and gathered the founders informing them gently The Guild will challenge us They will question our structure and our purpose But remember the crowd yesterday They saw value They saw service They saw a future you built

The founders nodded deeply breathing in strength Mira whispered We are ready Toren added We built this with discipline Lira said We can stand together Velra said We can scale Corren said We can deliver The necromancer said quietly We can contribute The rune and crystal pair said We can stabilize

Ethan looked at them one by one feeling pride rise in his chest He whispered You are no longer students You are founders and this is your world to build

Outside the moon rose over the kingdom casting long shadows across the river The world was changing and ArcSpark stood at the center of the storm Innovation had begun to shake the foundations of the realm and no force guild or political could fully stop it

Ethan whispered to himself The next phase begins now