Morpheus received reports from a scout with a decent affinity. Ortus decided to keep him up to date with many things and if he took fancy to some information, they'd dig into it deeper.
This way, Morpheus finally began to learn about the world freely. The mysterious mountain ranges in the South.
Legends say that a human Empire lies there as people seldom crossed the waters to get past the mountains. When the Northen continent hasn't yet conquered the entire plains, not to mention the rest.
Another world was still beyond their vision. The battles of Ortus and Athánatos surprised Morpheus quite a bit.
They reached a stalemate until Athánatos brought out the big guns. The sheer scale of the ship would drain at least 20% of Barford's yearly budget, according to Ortus.
Maybe it was due to the aggressive expansion and exploitation of a foreign land that Athánatos managed to gain so much resources in order to build it.
Till now, the size of Athánatos' dukedom exceeded the Barford dukedom twice fold. Their economic prowess is what catapulted them to dukedom.
On the other hand, the Life dukedom had it all. From iron, gold and other materials to dormant volcanoes and other valuable resources.
Morpheus couldn't understand, though. The volcanoes, earthquakes and other natural disasters seemed to follow some twisted logic.
He grew, albeit very slowly. Nonetheless, there hasn't been a single earthquake or a sign of tectonic plates moving.
Thus, he grew surprised that his 'science' and logic worked in this world as well so far. Another mysteries were humans.
Before Athánatos, the thought of conquering and uniting the entire continent didn't exist at all. People were content with what they had, and tribes were united.
More like a community than opposing tribes. When he came through, the general landscape changed.
Some rumours brewed that North of the Sea of Life was in the similar situation as the South and people began to expand further away from the Sea of Life.
Such a thought seemed impossible just a century ago. After all, the water and land around it made it enough to feed millions with ineffective farming methods.
Morpheus expected it to become a future cradle where billions would live with plenty of food after globalization takes place.
A certain adventurer travelled from the Barford family's port to the most southern point of the Sea of Life.
His result came to around 3 100 000 bars. Mind you, the Barford Family port's location is in the eastern center of the Sea of Life.
The adventurer's life goal was to measure the total length of the entire Sea of Life's coastline. Whether or not he proved to be successful would be in the clouds...
After quick maths. Morpheus guessed it to be around 3720 kilometres from Barford port to the most southern part.
If the Barford family was truly in the middle. Then the length of the 'sea' could be well beyond 7500 kilometres.
One word. Frightening amount of drinkable water, a true gold mine. Although not very accurate, that would be around 10 Baikal lakes of the older Earth.
Most likely even more, after all, none has yet explored the deepest part. Just this piece of water housed way more freshwater than Earth's freshwater combined.
Moreover, everyone could access it. And it is both in colder and hotter regions. Unless the 'empires' at the other side of the mountain range held such lakes.
Just the water alone would become a huge game changer in the globalization or even world conquest.
Fish and, most importantly, resources like oil made him shiver. If anyone in this age realised the potential of the Sea of Life, then they'd become immortal in the history books.
He held a bit of hope in Ortus that he wouldn't disappoint him. If he proved himself, then he'd very much like to see a dynasty controlling such a powerful resource.
Except for his interest in the Sea of Life. There came the thoughts about Halvar. Although much information got suppressed after it travelled to Ortus' side, but the most crucial information remained.
After spending some time in the Life city. Halvar disappeared from the radar of everyone, and no one knew where he would appear next.
Seeing that it would be quite difficult to see Halvar in the short amount of time, Morpheus gave Ortus a different kind of task.
Prove himself against Athánatos. Inform him of Morpheus' existence and see who comes out on top.
Ortus promptly did so. Foolish? He didn't think so. As much as he could torture the 'spirit', that wouldn't mean he'd gain technology and information.
Moreover, he held confidence in himself. If he didn't, how could he train leaders under him to lead his people well?
Of course, if the cards stacked itself against him too unfavourably, then he wouldn't risk the entire Barford territory for just a spirit.
When Athánatos learned about Morpheus, everything pieced itself together naturally.
"Hahaha, fine! Ortus, I agree with your bet. Let's see who the mother of Life favours more!" Athánatos said and laughed as he sent out a letter to Ortus.
He had added another incentive to the rivalry of Barford's and Life dukedom. Not that it'd change their strategy.
On the contrary, both played their cards even better and utilized their resources to the best of their abilities.
Ortus used his friendly relations and shared parts of technology like weaker cannons and faster ships. Those that wish to have such things must join his pact.
Ortus had created the mutual trade and defence pact or MTD! 3 greatest superpowers of the pact would cooperate with the Barfords to decide prices and help to keep the monopoly of the Sea of Life.
Not only would it keep other powers in check. Ortus, as long as he held his power, would benefit the most.
Free man power against Athánatos and more favourable trading conditions meant a higher rate of development.
As a sort of counterattack. Athánatos created the Life Religion officially. A holy book of water and life spread like a flood and became much more perfect.
Prototypes of chapels began to sprout in his territory and the religion began to spread even faster.
Then, he began to eye the greatest known river that connected to the Sea of Life. Around it, civilizations began to sprout as well, and they were relatively untouched.
With his newfound control of the western side. Ships and travellers began to visit the tribes around the river he renamed to Life's Wrath.
During the summer months, the flow of the river becomes much more turbulent, thus its name.
And so, seeds began to be planted around the river. In his eyes, he would use it in the future to travel the mysterious seas.
To see what lies beyond just the Northen continent. One of his hidden goals in life. Since young, something urged him to explore and become something great.
Ortus? But a stepping stone. Morpheus just proved that his hunch was right, if such a spirit could alter the scientific progress.
Then wouldn't there be entities like him? More wise, powerful and perhaps transcendent.
Immortality.
And the so called Empires in the Southern continent became one of the leads to his goal of immortality.
Still, he had a worthy foe to deal with. His eyes flashed as he thought.
'I am coming for you Ortus...'
...
Another month flashed by and their clashes turned from sole land warfare to a naval one as well.
Soon enough, talented people showcased themselves on the water. Some even exceeding Athánatos and Ortus in naval warfare.
Under Morpheus' suggestion, both sides began to call their highest admirals. According to him, it meant 'commander of the seas'.
The expansion to the sea of life didn't mean that the land battles took a breather. On the contrary. With the perfecting of cannons, the walls started to become redundant.
Powerful iron balls would be able to destroy castle walls in no time, and many were. If Athánatos had such technology earlier, it wouldn't be a problem to conquer that fort.
Not to mention 1000 casualties. Just 100 would be too much. The ever changing warfare began to test their genius.
General formations had to be abandoned, and they embraced guns more. Shield-bearers became free shooting targets. Not to mention swords, even spears, were almost all abandoned.
The use of gunpowder drained the Barford family a bit more than Athánatos. Thus Ortus decided to take an ownership of one of the volcanoes Athánatos held.
Both armies hadn't grown accustomed fully yet, and learning to aim skillfully took a lot of time and money as well.
So, it became this weird mash of 1000s warfare and 1600s warfare. Two timelines that didn't match at all.
Though Ortus had a surprise for Athánatos and it became the reason for his confidence. Trenches, he had a division of trench diggers ready.
Although some semblances of trenches appeared on both sides. None had taken it much further as they were learning the ropes.
Now, one of the most important battles was about to take place.
Athánatos and his second in command versus Ortus and his fourth in command were about to clash.