Dr Ethan Ward walked across the quiet campus in the early morning air thinking about the lecture he was about to give. He had spent years teaching students that economies did not rise because of luck they rose because of incentives structure and rational design. Today he planned to talk about the difference between nominal value and real value and why people misunderstand inflation. It was a routine topic yet always one that sparked good questions from the more curious students. Ethan enjoyed those moments more than anything else in his career

He entered the empty lecture hall placed his notes on the desk and took a long breath. He was tired from a late night reviewing data but he smiled at the thought of shaping another group of young minds. The world had so many problems excessive speculation rising inequality broken monetary policy and he believed that teaching people how systems worked was the first step toward solving those problems

He did not know that his world was about to dissolve

As he adjusted the projector something strange happened. The floor rippled like water and the entire room bent inward. He grabbed the desk to steady himself but the wood melted beneath his fingers. His surroundings disappeared replaced by swirling lights and a pressure that felt like a storm pressing directly on his bones. Ethan tried to speak but his voice was swallowed by the distortion. He felt weightless then unbearably heavy then nothing at all

The world snapped back like a stretched rubber band

He was lying on cold stone. The air smelled of incense and something metallic like the sharp scent left after lightning strikes the ground. Ethan pushed himself up and looked around. He was in a circular stone chamber lined with runes carved deep into the walls. Blue flames floated in the air illuminating the symbols with a soft glow. Robed figures stood in a ring around him each holding a staff that pulsed with quiet mana

One of them stepped forward. His robe was darker than the others and his staff carried a crystal that flickered with faint light. His voice was calm but heavy with authority

Welcome traveler we have called you across worlds

Ethan stared at them unable to process the words. He was an economist not a dreamer yet the scene was unmistakably magical. He took a slow breath trying to steady his mind

Why me he asked

The robed man nodded as if expecting the question. Because our kingdom is dying and our magic cannot save it. Prices rise faster than we can adjust them. Guilds fight for power. Nobles hoard wealth. Taxes change from city to city. Trade collapses the moment a single guild restricts mana flow. We believed we needed a powerful mage but instead the arcane answered our call with you

The others murmured softly. Ethan looked at them confused. I am not a mage he said. I teach economics

The leader smiled slightly. Then you are exactly what we needed

They helped Ethan stand and guided him out of the ritual chamber. As they walked through long stone corridors he saw murals showing the kingdom’s history. Prosperous harvests turned into barren fields. Mana crystals cracked from overuse. Cities once full of life now shown with empty streets. Something fundamental had broken in this world and its people did not know how to fix it

Outside the temple Ethan saw the capital for the first time. Tall towers made of white stone pierced the sky. Floating lanterns drifted above the city. Mana streams flowed like rivers but the streets were tense and quiet. Shops were half open. Banners were faded. A market stall had goods displayed but no prices listed. Everything felt unstable uncertain fragile

A young mage walked past them arguing with a merchant. You raised the price again he shouted. I cannot afford this

The merchant threw his hands up. The guild sets the price I have no say

Ethan slowed his pace watching the interaction. No price transparency no stable currency no clear institutions. The entire economy was running on tradition and guesswork and it was starting to collapse under its own weight

The robed leader finally spoke again. This is why we summoned you. Our kingdom does not need more magic. It needs structure. It needs understanding. It needs reform

Ethan felt a strange calm settle over him. He did not choose this world but he could see its problems as clearly as if he were reading a broken balance sheet. A failing system was something he understood deeply. And if he had been brought here to fix it then his path was already forming

He nodded slowly. Show me everything you can. If this world is falling apart we need to find the cause before we can build a solution

The leader smiled with quiet relief. Then come professor. Your real work begins now

They walked forward into a kingdom waiting for its future to be rewritten not by spells or swords but by ideas