The next morning Emberhold did not greet him with quiet whispers. It greeted him with a crowd.

Dozens of people waited near the pottery courtyard before he even arrived. Adventurers with recording spheres witches with potion kits beast handlers with new creatures even merchants holding enchanted signs wanting to advertise. The moment they saw Evan the crowd surged forward with a wave of enthusiasm.

Are you the outsider
You are the one making the illusion network right
I want to show my cooking spells
Let me show my sword style
My shop needs promotion Can I join

Evan froze for a moment overwhelmed. The courtyard was barely large enough for a dozen testers not fifty. The mages rushed to help create order stepping between eager people and calming them.

The purple robed witch approached Evan quietly with a smile
Word spreads fast in Emberhold
He nodded a little stunned I expected interest not a full crowd
Your creators from yesterday have fans already she added

He blinked
Fans
Already

A beast handler from yesterday shyly waved at him a small feathered creature perched on his shoulder. Behind him several children held wooden toys imitating the creature’s moves from yesterday’s test loop.

Evan felt a strange warmth
The first followers
This was how communities began

But the excitement came with friction
The crowd argued about who should test first
Some shouted that adventurers should be the first since illusions were action heavy
Others insisted witches should go first since their magic displayed richer colors
Merchants demanded equal time since they prepared content too

Voices overlapped
Tension built
The courtyard vibrated with chaotic energy

Insight Vision activated automatically showing the tangled lines not of mana but of influence and expectation. It was the first major challenge every new platform faced
Demand
Competition
Impatience

Evan raised both hands calmly
I appreciate everyone here I truly do But we cannot test without order

The crowd quieted slightly
He continued
Magenet development has rules from the Council and we must follow them No dangerous pulses No chaos No overwhelming mana spikes

The mages nodded firmly
The craftsman added He needs space and control If you want this system to grow you must respect its limits

The courtyard stilled enough for Evan to continue
I will form testing queues A schedule Each person will get a chance But only small batches each day The system must grow slowly

Some groaned but most accepted reluctantly.

Before Evan could proceed a tall armored woman pushed through the crowd. Her armor bore a crest of crossed quills and lightning bolts. She carried no sword only a staff with a crystal pen at one end.

I am Sera Valen of the Adventurers Chronicle she announced The largest publication in the kingdom
People gasped
Even Evan swallowed nervously

Sera studied Evan I heard rumors of a magical network where anyone can share illusion stories If this is true it will disrupt every information guild in the realm

Evan forced a steady voice Magenet is being built carefully It is only a prototype for now
She smirked A prototype that already has fans

She stepped closer lowering her voice
I want to test it Not as a creator but as a reporter

Her presence alone shifted the crowd. People whispered. Merchants leaned forward. Adventurers straightened. Even witches gasped softly.

This was influence
Massive influence

Evan nodded slowly You can observe the tests but we must prioritize the creators who helped shape the system from the beginning
Sera raised an eyebrow Not a foolish decision You understand loyalty

She stepped aside and folded her arms observing silently.

Evan began organizing the testing queue starting with yesterday’s creators. As they set up the relay square again the crowd buzzed with excitement. The creators now performed with confidence because they knew the system and understood how to present their illusions better.

The witch created a series of potion bursts each with shifting color gradients.
The beast handler had his creature produce small flame loops.
The adventurer added footwork patterns and blade arcs showing new training sequences.

Each illusion loop drew cheers from the crowd.
Sera watched with sharp attention her eyes reflecting the spinning illusions.
Finally she whispered This will change everything

But friction returned when the crowd noticed that some creators got more cheers than others. Jealousy rose especially among those who had not yet tested. A merchant shouted Why does he get three loops I waited longer
A witch protested They are hogging the sphere

Arguments sparked
Evan stood in the center trying to keep the peace
Insight Vision displayed rising conflict lines
If he did not stabilize the system creators would turn against one another

He raised his voice again
Magenet is not a competition There will be time for everyone But we must create fairness Fairness builds trust Trust builds community

The words resonated
Not magic
Not runes
But structure

The crowd settled
Most listened
Some did not

A hooded sorcerer near the back muttered loud enough for others to hear
A network that spreads illusions is a tool for manipulation He thinks he can control it but he cannot You cannot contain a storm

Evan’s spine chilled
The sorcerer vanished into the crowd before he could respond

The craftsman approached quietly I warned you boy The more powerful your creation becomes the more enemies it will attract
Evan nodded
I know

He looked at the creators the followers the observers He felt the weight of early success mixed with early danger.

This was the beginning
The first users
The first fans
The first critics
And the first shadow that would oppose Magenet

He looked at the relay crystals glowing softly in the center
Magenet had taken its next big step
But so had those who wished to stop it