Rick stepped closer, his boots echoing faintly on the stone floor, his voice both proud and serious.
"Little Ray, we've come to a mutual decision that you will become the guild leader."
Ray's heart skipped a beat. A wave of shock washed over him, stiffening his posture. He stared at the five legendary inventors standing before him—each a titan in their own right—and saw them nod in solemn agreement. Their expressions, usually hardened by years of rivalry and ambition, now shared a rare and unified conviction.
He stood there, in the heart of the Inventors' Hall, surrounded by figures he had admired in the shadows. The weight of their trust, of something far bigger than he had ever imagined, pressed onto his shoulders.
"I am too young to be a leader," Ray said finally, his voice wavering slightly. "It should be one of you. Maybe... maybe you all can become guild leaders."
Rick shook his head, a rueful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "We tried that. All of us. But our egos clashed. Every decision turned into an argument, every plan into a battlefield. We couldn't agree on anything. But then, you walked into that room... and for the first time in years, our minds aligned. We agreed—unanimously—that it should be you."
Ray opened his mouth, a protest on the tip of his tongue. "Why me? I have no experience. What made you think I could be a good leader? How am I supposed to take responsibility for all of you?"
Agatha Wrenford, the agricultural genius, stepped forward with a calm smile. She tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind her ear, her eyes warm. "It was your idea to call our group the 'Inventor Guild.' That name gave us a purpose. An identity."
Another man arrived with the intention of creating a land vehicle designed to transport people easily—not just any carriage, but a faster mode of transportation on land. His name is Albert Reginald, he said. "You're the one who gave us the spark—ideas for future inventions we hadn't even dreamed of. If you and I work together, we could build something that will change how people travel forever."
Then another man named Felix Gearhart, who is working on water transportation for fishing, traveling, and finding new lands, said, "You make us want to listen. That's the difference. You have something none of us have—people naturally want to follow you."
Ophelia Cogswell, who is working on developing new types of weaponry, softened her sharp eyes as she stepped into the circle. Her voice, usually laced with sarcasm, now carried weight and sincerity. "Try it, Ray. Just try being the leader. We'll support you from the sidelines. We've got egos, sure—but we respect brilliance. We saw Rick's wristwatch. That thing… it humbled us. We realized how far behind we are. That's why we admire you."
Ray was stunned. Their words crashed against him like waves—affirmation, responsibility, belief. He wanted to deny it all, to tell them they were wrong, but the words caught in his throat. His mind raced. He had only ever wanted to be the mind behind the curtain, the whisper that moved giants—not the one at the front.
Rick stepped closer, his voice softer now, the final blow measured and steady. "As guild leader, you'll have access to our vaults. Resources at discounted prices. And it's not just us you'll be leading. There are dozens of semi-inventors and hundreds of apprentices and hopefuls who look up to us. They'll look up to you. We'll be here when you need us."
Ray's hands clenched slightly at his sides. He had wanted change—dreamed of it. But not like this. He wanted the inventors as allies, as quiet backers. Not as his responsibility.
But perhaps… it was too late for that now.
He sighed deeply, the weight settling into his bones. "I'll become the leader... for a trial. Just to see if it works. But no one outside this room should know who's really in charge. I'm not strong enough to protect myself, so I'll stay in the shadows. Let me lead from there, and I'll keep giving you ideas."
He looked at each of them in turn, then added, "Also, you've taken in most of the inventors, semi-inventors, and trainees. I want you to bring in the new ones too—like Daniel. We can't afford to let talents like him drift away. Other kingdoms are growing stronger because we failed to give those minds a home. Let's change that. Let's be their home."
His voice strengthened with purpose, like steel slowly hardening under flame.
"I have a large tract of land. Big enough to house them all. But we'll need architects. Construction workers. We need to build homes—safe, comfortable places for these people and for the future of the guild. And we'll need crystal stones. A lot of them. Every one of you needs them to research and develop your inventions. So I'll find a way to earn us more than we've ever had before."
The inventors exchanged glances, their once-proud eyes slowly softening with awe. They had been so consumed by invention, by chasing the next breakthrough, that they had forgotten the basics of infrastructure, of funding, of unity. Ray's words struck a chord—he was giving them more than direction. He was giving them vision.
He was giving them hope.
The air in the room thickened with anticipation. Even the quiet crackle of a nearby lantern felt louder, the weight of destiny pressing on them all.
Ray, unaware of how profoundly he was shifting their lives, continued to speak. He began offering ideas, sketches drawn in haste, visions only he could see clearly. He explained, methodically and passionately, how each of their inventions could reach the next level.
The more he talked, the more their eyes lit up.
Lydia, who had been watching silently from the side, felt her chest tighten. The inventors—once unruly, combative, and impossible to manage—now sat still like obedient students before a master. Their expressions were peaceful, even reverent. She blinked in disbelief. At one point, the discussion moved so far into technical invention jargon that she couldn't follow anymore.
Quietly, she slipped away to bring food and tea for them, leaving the inventors entranced around Ray.
As the night deepened, Ray kept giving, and the five legends listened—truly listened.
With every word, every idea he shared, something extraordinary happened.
Their loyalty deepened.
Their admiration solidified.
By the time he finished, they no longer saw him as just a boy with vision. They saw the beginning of a new era.
And though Ray did not know it yet, the Inventors Guild—once fractured and chaotic—had finally found its true center.
Him.