The Rubber fields were now a thing. It turned out that it spanned quite a way out and away from my territory. This brought great progress. No seriously, we put rubber everywhere. In buildings, in tools, in furniture, everywhere.

The reason we did that, however, was interesting. Rubber itself on Earth was produced through sap of a tree and could be diluted in order to give different effects. More strength but less bounciness or vice-versa. However, we didn’t have that luxury and our rubber fields produced exclusively hard rubber. Its bounciness was negligible, my finger didn’t get very far before it resisted.

So now we slapped Rubber everywhere. Made things much sturdier. Our spears now have better grips and hold the sharp Emmeraude and wood together better. Buildings were being renovated to add rubber in its supporting areas.

Rubber was so abundant that we sold it off to any buyer. The Boirans really liked it and always took a big chunk of it to their Fortress. The Harnashaa were intrigued by the product and gave us Carnash for it.

With me leading the general populace to progress technologically with the help of Meena and her crew I found an interesting issue. Halamar is just boring. Building an empire is certainly tough and I thought I was doing things correctly but I missed a crucial part of an empire.

It’s identity. Great Britain before the industrial revolution had a rich cultural history. We don’t have that. Since I’m rushing science with no rest the environment keeps changing. Halamar is always restless, the 100 so people all crave newer discoveries, some people even just regularly do research on their own.

I acted stupidly and didn’t think about the big picture. The science curve should be natural but now, it’s all over the place. Many things that should come with time was forced by me and the Mrentoni are slowly changing because of it. Sure, we are still hardy warriors with a code of honor but now, honor is becoming less of a thing. Research is valuable now to these people. Any form of new discovery is discussed and dissected in the Great Hall.

The culture of Honor is slowly dying in front of my eyes and it was all my fault. It’s too late now, the people are now happy to be working not only their fair share of labor in harvesting areas but also do their own research.

A cultural shift.

Rubber influenced all of us way too much but now it’s a part of life. We live on top of an abundant deposit of it. It’s been only a week since it’s discovery.

I’m mulling in the Chieftan's house which itself got renamed to the Councils Home. The technological upbringing and my policy of keeping everyone informed and educated in the basics have led to a greater understanding of politics and such. The Mrentoni are still treating me like a leader but the general view of me and the other Chieftan's is less subordinary and more equal.

Who knew that aiming for equality would lead to such destruction of the honor system that identified the Mrentoni.

An issue that plagued me thoroughly. Everyone around me was heavily influenced by my human thinking in aiming for justice and equality when the Meritocratic system before was what I initially wanted. A mistake for thinking that the Mrentoni need equality in treatment when they already treated success like the greatest thing ever.

They are now not so incorruptible. What drove them was honor and respect is now just technology. This isn’t like a Civ game where everything is constant. I now understand why the Human Champion was having difficulties. He probably was too some bloke from an advanced nation who prioritized something too much which lead to many problems.

I need to nip the root of this problem but if I am too aggressive I might cause a divide between us. The young who want to delve deeper into the knowledge wormhole and the old who had honor ingrained in their being.

I stand up. “Zarhan, Garran I need you to bring everyone to the Market Square, I need to make a speech.” They still follow the honor code but I can’t say the same for quite a few other people, my authority would be undermined if I let them continue.

The people slowly gather at the square, many confused at why some eager to hear the Chieftan's speak and some with obvious dislike to the whole situation. I clear my throat and motion for silence.

“I have gathered you all today to explain to you something you are all forgetting.” I begin with a heavy tone. “Progress has been made when we discovered the Rubber fields, we now employ It in most of your equipment and buildings. That is good. However, Rubber has influenced not only me but each and every one of you standing in front of me and not in a good way.”

They start murmuring after I pause slightly.

“Many of you received some form of education after I joined as Co-Chieftan and that is also very good. An educated population is a hardworking and intelligent population. However, my push to treat all of you the same and bring the luxuries that we Chieftan's used to possess to everyone else led to many Mrentoni in tarnishing your heritage. We all functioned by honor a short while ago, the more honor someone has, the more respect you give them since honor comes from the people.”

I pause once again for them to chew through the information.

“Now, people are forgetting what we as Mrentoni always stood by. Many among you start acting on your own, forgetting that before you can decide, there is the entire Mrentoni populace that you ignore. Instead of honoring your fellow neighbor and wishing them everything well I saw many of you spit on what was your proud heritage and began taking actions on your own. Many of these actions harmful to what I tried to establish.”

This riles up a few of the insubordinate Mrentoni.

Some guy barks out. “So, you get to control us no problem eh, Gherman? Think you can keep us under control to do what you wish? Well no more from me, I refuse to listen to your commands when all you do is lie and cheat us from a good life. Forcing us to work by introducing Carnash from oversized bugs!”

Some of his standing neighbors try to force him to apologize but I ignore that.

“You heard him here folks, I who lied and cheated my way to Chieftan has all forced you to work for currency so that any one of you can buy what you want when you want it. It is my fault that I brought to you many technological discoveries with the help from our Science division leader Meena. It is my fault that Zarhan and Stalra all desperately worked in order to build the houses you live in. It is my fault that Garran joined my council so that he could save his tribe from starvation and destruction. It is my fault that you want to do nothing and see things brought to you on a plate. It is my fault that I treated every single one of you with the respect that at times your honor didn’t give you. It is my fault that I wished for my people to never forget and remember our way of life by giving this speech about the few people that wish tarnish what the Mrentoni always lived for.”

Silence. The Mrentoni that spoke to me is now regretting his speech. These people are educated although naïve so they will understand that they were wrong in trying to find justice when they already had it. Just like children that feel like they were wronged when they couldn’t do something one time.

“Any Mrentoni that decided to be autonomous and spit on our code of honor step forward and ask for forgiveness not only from me but from everyone around you. If you still feel you are wronged please leave and never come back.”

The rebellious Mrentoni that spat on the hierarchy stepped forward and kneeled, asking for forgiveness. No one decided to leave.

I sigh internally. At least they are not complete muscle-heads when they are taught. Panara, Zarhan, and Garran all look at me with reverence. They were team Honor so my speech riled them up as much as it did the perpetrators.

Although I blamed the naive for thinking that way, it was still my fault it came to that. My speech is ironically hypocritical. However, showing weakness as a leader is the first step to failure. If I blamed myself truly they might’ve forced me to leave.

I retire to my bedroom with a few goodbyes and visit Moruna.

I’m back in the bright white light.

“Come in Gherman.” She beckons me like before.

I step inside and sit down on the same chair like before.

“Did you enjoy the show so far?” I ask in a stressed tone.

“Come on Gherman, don’t be such a puss. What you did is not your fault, many champions fall into this trap however not many remedy the situation like you did. You are resourceful and righteous, don’t let their grievances weigh you down and certainly don’t listen to anyone that forces you to change the way you try to help people.” She lectures me. Certainly, a goddess with wisdom in the bank.

“Ok, mom, I'll be good!” I jest.

She smiles at me cheering up. “So, what brings you here other than you acting like a child when you got a boo-boo?”

She knows me too well.

“Moruna, you said that The Eternity Games are played by the gods to bring up a new god among you. However, I'm the one playing, you have almost no input.”

“Clever and to an extent you are correct. Our champions get autonomy at the start of their game but you forget. We get to pick our starting hand. You Gherman, are a royal flush, something that not many gods can exploit.”

“Exploit? So, you do have an input beyond picking a hand. Figures.”

“Oh, don’t worry Gherman, until you reach a certain level in your growth do we start playing an acting role within your territory.”

“Then what is it? Why all the secrecy behind your involvement?”

“Well, it is simply because it will affect your style if we tell our champions. I can reveal what it is since you are doing exceptionally well and have been zipping through the technological ages. After a champion unites his people do we start playing an acting role and we give many things in order to boost our champions power. I cannot say what it is specifically because it may alter what you do now in preparation for it, giving an unfair advantage.”

They do participate, at least it’s not for their entertainment. My next goal if I want to win the Eternity Games is to unite my people and speed towards the space age straight after. The other champions probably are not horrible since the gods are picking them.

I slap myself a few times and start murmuring. “I need to develop the engine, or get Meena to do it.”

Moruna brings me back from my world. “Don’t worry Gherman, among the champions you are quite far ahead with technology, rushing is not such a big issue. However, I must say that you really got lucky with your placement of Halamar but you exploiting the resources around the area is all on you. Good job!” She gives me a thumbs up.

“Just don’t only focus on tech. You have to be the leading authority on Orinah to be eligible for space exploration and the next phase of the game. Either it is through conquest or diplomacy will be fine but I’ll give you some advice. You have already confirmed the Harnashaa are on the continent. Remember, diversity if properly lead can achieve mind-boggling results. Imagine if you had these spiritualists on your side as war potential or something along those lines. The Humans back on Earth are way too behind since they are the only species on their planet and so they have only rare occasions of a scientist thinking in a different way.”

“The Boirans already trust you and they will be powerful if you let them be part of your empire since they are such great builders.”

“I understand,” I say.

“Well then, get on with it, I wanna see how you tackle the unification of the Mrentoni.”

“Ok, mom!” I close my eyes and wish myself back. Before I lose connection to this place I hear,

“Stop calling me mom!”

Heh.