The guildhall's main chamber was buzzing as usual—adventurers haggling over quests, clerks stamping papers, the smell of ink and sweat thick in the air. But JP wasn't headed for the quest board this time.
Two armored escorts led him and Lyra straight up the staircase, through carved oak doors, into a spacious office that smelled of parchment, polished wood, and pipe smoke.
At the center sat a man who could only be the Guildmaster: broad shoulders, beard streaked with gray, sharp eyes that missed nothing. He leaned forward as JP was ushered in.
"So. You're the newcomer. The inventor."
JP swallowed hard, bowing awkwardly. "Uh—depends on your definition of 'inventor.' Sometimes I prefer the term 'creative enthusiast of mildly dangerous tinkering.'"
Lyra pinched the bridge of her nose.
The Guildmaster's expression didn't change. He tapped a stack of reports on his desk. "Farmers speak of your irrigation pump. Villagers whisper about lamps that shine without oil. And now I hear rumors of… stakes that kill beasts with lightning. You can see why we're interested."
JP laughed nervously. "Oh, you know how rumors are. Exaggerated. Blown out of proportion. Totally overhyped. I mean, sure, maybe I made something that zaps rabbits but—"
"Demonstrate," the Guildmaster interrupted.
JP froze. "Uh. Right here? On your desk?"
"Now."
Panic set in. JP fumbled with his satchel—his newly integrated Inventory flickered open in his vision. He grabbed the first thing that came to mind: a half-finished prototype of his Pulse Stake.
"Alright, but uh, fair warning, this is version… let's call it 0.7 beta. Still working out the kinks."
The Guildmaster arched a brow. "Proceed."
JP planted the stake on the carpet. He tapped the rune trigger.
The stake hummed. A faint crackle of energy sparked across its tip. JP exhaled, relieved. "See? Perfectly safe—"
The stake discharged, sending a snap of blue lightning arcing across the Guildmaster's desk. His inkwell exploded in a fountain of black ink. Papers flew everywhere. One of the guards yelped as his metal gauntlet sizzled with static.
JP froze mid-motion, covered in ink splatters. "…That was not part of the demonstration."
For a moment, silence. Then, the Guildmaster slowly wiped ink off his beard, his expression unreadable.
Lyra buried her face in her hands. "Idiot."
JP scrambled to salvage the situation. He yanked out another item—his glowcap lamp. It flickered to life, casting a warm, steady glow. "But look! Lamp! Safe, portable, non-flammable lighting! Totally less desk-destroy-y."
The Guildmaster studied it, then him. Finally, the man chuckled, low and dangerous. "You're reckless. Unpolished. But you have… potential."
JP blinked. "So I'm not banned?"
"No. But know this." The Guildmaster's eyes hardened, sharp as steel. "Tools that change lives also disrupt balance. Merchants will covet them. Nobles will demand them. Rivals will kill for them. If you continue on this path, you will make enemies."
JP gulped. "Enemies plural. Got it."
The Guildmaster leaned back, lacing his fingers. "I'll allow your registration as an inventor under guild oversight. But one misstep, one misuse… and it won't be bandits you're worried about."
JP nodded rapidly, hiding the fact his hands were still buzzing with static from the botched demo.
As they left, Lyra muttered, "You're lucky he didn't throw you out the window."
JP grinned weakly. "Lucky, or charming?"
"You're covered in ink."
"…Fair point."