Arkinslize
Jake really is the ideal "unwilling leader" type. Will is honestly a genius for taking advantage of that fact. He definitely knows Jake could care less about leading a faction, but he also knows Jake won't simply pass up the advantages of having one. Thus, it's a win win. Jake gets his faction, doesn't need to do much more than the basic leadership stuff, maybe impose his will here or there and help raise up some members or lead people in fights, meanwhile, more business savvy or political minded people like Will get to increase both Jake, the faction and of course their own power by doing all the what Jake sees as "annoying" stuff.
i know this is out of place but with reading this novel i noticed that aether and the theorised dark matter are simmiler in how you explained gravity and holding things together and since dark matter is still being reshurched i thought maybe they are the same but more explained with aither if you see this post please reply