2 years had since passed and the speed of progress of the Barford family increased instead of declining.
Their hold over the regional economy increased day by day. People who weren't content disappeared and their rule couldn't be more powerful.
Rise for hundreds of years. Hopeless tribes joined the religion of Life to keep their territories and some resemblance of sovereignty for just a bit longer.
Athánatos himself led a few crusades against the Barfords. Nonetheless, a terrifying trump card defeated thousands before they could even get close.
...
"Halvar, so many tribes are joining Balfords so willingly?" Morpheus asked with a curious tone.
"Indeed, indeed. Our exports increased the wealth of many tribes and helped them grow and combined with our politics, the leaders decided that it would be best for the tribes to join us." Halvar said with a grin.
"Interesting... queen to g 6." Morpheus said simply and Halvar moved his piece. Not long after, a knight appeared on a horse with another one.
"Sire Halvar, it is time for lunch. Lady decided that today it'll be your favourite dish." The knight said.
"Hahaha great, it has been weeks since I could taste the flavour of a walleye. Those pests are harder and harder to catch." Halvar said and casually swept the pieces under the board.
"See you later Morphy."
Just like that, he left.
'Trust...' Morpheus fell into deep thought.
...
"Sir Halvar! Bad news! The Sea of Life seems to be enraged! A lot of ships haven't arrived since the past few days and the water came to life!" said a knight as he bursted into a room.
"Fine, fine. I'll take a look at it later." Halvar said as he put the fish into his mouth. The knight begrudgingly left.
...
Just days later, more bad news came in. The crops failed to yield enough food and a massive rat infestation took at least a quarter of granaries.
An unknown disease broke out in the North and with the winter coming. The spread seemed to come south.
Not to mention that one of the core members seemingly defected and joined the Religion of Life.
Through some miracle. They now were catching up in technology, and the legendary Barford army suffered its first loss.
Series of blows to morale brought Halvar to one place he knew he would find an answer to.
"Morpheus, do you have any ideas?" Halvar asked with nonchalance.
"Hmm, I don't think I have any idea."
"There has to be something! Come on, you are the noble spirit of wisdom, aren't you?" Halvar said.
"Let me think..."
"Fine, but it has to be soon, otherwise people will suffer because of it!" Halvar finished and stomped off.
'Does he take me for a fool?' Morpheus thought.
He had noticed a few months ago. No life form had appeared near the hill except Halvar and an occasional knight that delivered news.
Not even a doe or a wild rabbit.
Morpheus dismissed it, but Halvar changed. He was okay with him changing. After all, nothing is ever constant.
Nonetheless, Halvar stopped bothering with him and appeared only when he needed an idea for a breakthrough or advice.
The movement from the Balford family also stopped making sense.
"Since when was mercantilism so forgiving? Fool, they made the system to benefit one at the behest of others. I gave you that theory..." Morpheus said in a quiet voice.
But, even if he yelled, nothing would happen. At some point, Halvar presented him with two choices.
Suffer alone or help him rise.
Morpheus felt like a moron. So what if Halvar had a tragic background? And since when did an affinity bond decided that he would be a righteous man till the end?
He had one thing on his side. Time. Nevertheless, Morpheus wanted him to pay. Ever since, Halvar decided to use Morpheus as a tool.
The bargain most likely ceased to exist. Halvar could just think of excuses and reasons that nothing like him existed in the world.
And Morpheus would have to accept it. He should have anticipated that something like this would happen.
The question remained. What now?
...
"So, did you come up with something?"
"I believe I did. Increase tax from the civilians and buy food from other tribes at an increased price. Also, put constant guard next to granaries. Moreover, I think that you should... ... ... ... ..." Morpheus said and explained for a few minutes.
Halvar beamed and slapped the chessboard.
"I knew I could count on you Morphy! Ah, let me reorganize it."
"Let's just start all over again..." Morpheus said as he watched Halvar act like some clown.
A few times, the pieces flew off the board. And both of them knew the reason very well.
...
Halvar returned to his outpost and relayed his ideas. Some elders disagreed, but most were onboard with Halvar's constant performance.
In less than 3 days. The almost dozen territories under the Barford family had increased their taxes.
Delicate balance broke. At first, cities and, by extension, the nobles ruling them felt no difference.
Except for more money, no one suffered. Some citizens grumbled, but they just had to sacrifice a few poker games and beers in order to pay the increased tax.
Then the prices began to soar. Food got imported and yet the prices went up almost every day.
"What do you mean it costs two Halvs?! A week ago you could buy three loaves for just one!"
The voices of discontent grew. On the opposite side, Athánatos and his now count level territory prospered.
Eventually, it reached the ears of the suffering villagers.
"The Sea of Life blessed our yields! She gave us ample food for the cruel winter. Now, look at those heretics! Their crop yield low and granaries destroyed by her wrath!"
Stories began to spread. The once on believing villagers and eventually citizens began to compare the two.
"Nowadays, 2 hours of grueling work results in just 2 days' worth of food! I can't even go to the pub as often." Said a burly man.
"Lucky you! The workshop I worked at had to cut their workforce to save money and I am now jobless. I wish I could swing the hammer like you and earn food at least." Lamented another.
"Have you heard? The Waterflow village had to migrate! Their food was long gone and the Barford family refused to give any kind of aid."
"Barfords? Hah! Them and their flair. Don't tell anyone, but my cousin told me that their army is about to lose one of the territories." Said the man to the burly man.
"Poor villagers, not only did Barfords take over one of their last hunting grounds, but they also threatened anyone who dared enter!"
"Tsk maybe the -"
"Shhh, last time someone snitched and one of my friends got locked up." The burly man stopped the other.
Both sighed. In the end, they didn't dare leave for an uncertain future.
...
"Morpheus, it's terrible! The people are going on a strike and your idea was stupid!" Halvar bellowed, as he vented his frustration from the past few days.
Terrible news one upon another. Imported food got intercepted by the Life religion a couple of times.
Athánatos had designed small, but fast ships to ram them to create holes. Through dozens of ships, they managed to take down one armed with cannons.
Since then, there were crude imitations of their technology. People were hungry and now the army struggled.
"Find a way to fix it! I can't wait and how my hard work crumbles like that." Halvar said.
"Why?" Morpheus asked.
"What do you mean, why? We are in this boat together." Halvar spat out.
"No, why would you think that?"
"Are you a fool? Only through me! Me! Can you see the outside world! You said it yourself. Stop pretending, without me you are nothing. Stuck in that 'void' or whatever you call it."
Morpheus laughed and laughed.
"Everything you had achieved is due to me. You think you are some kind of chosen one?"
"Just you see. After I leave you for a month, how you'll beg me to let you see the outside world!" Halvar said, shedding the last pretenses.
In a few strides, he left the chess pieces on the ground.
Morpheus sighed and returned.
Instead of the infinite void. He could see instead walls. A simple room with the same bookshelf, table, chair and a new 'PC'.
On it were files titled. 'Memories'
Morpheus sat down and clicked through them. Thousands of sub files appeared, and he scrolled through them.
After two years. His bond ability hit a wall. On the other hand, through memorization and a lot of failure, he could now manifest walls and even created a PC.
Though it couldn't do anything more than let him access his memories more efficiently.
After a few more years. Perhaps he could create some card games.
The void seemed ever so mysterious, but he came to a few theories.
This place wasn't void. But his mindscape or even subconscious.
Another theory made this into his own magical subspace that, once he mastered, could influence with reality.
That didn't seem likely, though. While Morpheus couldn't plot nor instigate anything. Just the ideas he gave Halvar would backfire on him.
Halvar lacked the foundations of a modern person. Things he lacked like experience and the environment, something Morpheus couldn't just replicate.
And these things would cost him dearly...