"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."

- Sun Tzu

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Imaginary ominous sound effects in the background. I had a huge chunk of uranium ore.

Well, not huge but quite large, with about forty centimeters wide by ten centimeters tall, and quite active too. But if you asked me, any amount of uranium is too much uranium. Once I knew what I was dealing with, it only took a quick search to find what that green rock was. Torbenite. It could be kryptonite, I'd prefer that. I snapped a picture before messing with it.

I tried to think what to do with it and remembered my portable lab has a dosimeter tag, one of those cheap $15 credit-card-sized ones. I went outside the treasure room, took the lab from storage and cut an ear from the tag to store back. This way I could discard the used tag and see if it would restore itself from the removed piece. After that's done, I remove it from its lead sheet casing and return to the room.

I put it in my pocket and checked periodically to see if the band's color darkened. It went from the light green of 10mSv and I let time pass as I worked, checking every now and then. The green band darkened to 500 and in the end, it was a bit past 1,000 mSv right before I locked the whole material away. That was beyond safe. I released the tag and it disintegrated. But I went ahead of myself.

Call the EPA. This uranium sample is so pure and potent it could be considered weapons-grade material.

The sandstone walls were very thick as it could be seen through the windows, but this door frame had double that thickness. It meant this room was built to be a safe so the radiation was mostly contained in this room. But I doubted Hama-Tula wasn't feeling the effects of radiation poisoning already if he slept here every day. I had to clear up everything. It begged the question, could I clear the contaminated gold? Maybe separate isotopes I took a coin and tried to Decompose in reverse. I'd keep the Au 197 and push away everything else. Nothing happened and I pushed more. The copper came out. These coins were not pure gold. Maybe 22-carat gold. But the lump of gold I had left after the copper came out, it stored.

I cleaned up all the coins, dumping the lump of copper in the lead bowl with the uranium. I didn't even care if it was contaminated or not. It was just copper. Then the gemstones. I shook my head as I destroyed probably hundreds of gold shekels worth of gems. I tested them one by one with the ziplock bag, storage refused to accept them. The whole room should be past salvation. All I could do was Decompose everything so no valuables remained behind, then lock down the room.

Maybe if I had more experience with the radioactive elements and isotopes, I could clean without utterly destroying the objects by removing only them. But I didn't. I snapped a video of the scroll's contents, most of them are letters with two royal proclamations mixed in. I didn't read them in-depth but they also had to be destroyed.

To solve the radiation problem I had forty-four kilograms of lead. And that was what I did. After I separated the ore from the silicon, I extracted water and copper phosphate from the torbernite, removing the salt into a cup of silicon and dumping the uranium and its decaying friends inside a bowl of lead along with water. I left the bowl half-full then shaped more lead to cover it, making a sphere that was half-air with uranium sitting on the water. Uranium can burn if exposed to air. Before I closed it I had to check for more contaminated material. So I scoured the walls and shelves, Decomposing the safe materials away from the irradiated ones.

I only hoped my self-healing boon would keep me safe.

The sense of wrongness was strong and easy to detect now that I got used to it. It was as if my power was meant to do exactly that. Maybe it was and given all the things I discovered recently, I didn't doubt a bit. I scraped a centimeter out of the walls, ceiling, and floor, and also destroyed every object in there. I had a fistful of irradiated material that went in with the uranium.

I wish I had more tags to check but I didn't and the piece I stored would need a day to restore itself before I could check if it could be reused. My only hope was to work until Decompose wasn't creeping me out anymore when I tried to sense around the room.

Then I sealed the material inside a block, using all the lead, adding layers until I had a thick brick. The uranium was sealed in the lead with only ten centimeters of thickness. A third than what was really needed but enough to block or slow down most emissions. The next heaviest metal I had was copper but putting a layer of copper around the lead would be bad as copper was a precious and useful metal. I wrapped the lead in a thick layer of aluminum and then wrapped around with silicon.

I scraped samples of the roof, floor, and walls to test if it would enter storage. It did. Satisfied with the containment, I plastered aluminum over where the door was and adjacent walls, removing some of the sandstone and layering a 2-centimeter thick sheet of aluminum over the entire opening. I used up all my aluminum and lead. knew the aluminum wouldn't block many gamma emissions but it would slow them down better than whatever I could get to block that gap.

To me, aluminum was cheaper than copper. Hello, it is the third most common element in the crust. At least I got the gold and saved the document's data. I had to stop and review them later.

Nuclear crisis averted, I and shoved everything that would be sold down the balcony. After pondering I also tossed the bear pelt because I wanted Sere-Naha and Kali-Maru to wash it.

The room was empty. I went to the next room and found Bananu's bedroom. She left most of her clothes behind. I remember she was carrying only a sack when she left. They seemed fancy and expensive, but not my style. The next room was a storage room. Probably Hama-Tula's walk-in closet. I could see male clothes and shoes. Nothing worth anything to me. The fourth room was Rubati's. Same thing. I would send the girls here to see if they wanted any of these.

Or if the kids wanted to keep a memento of their mom.

Done with the master section of the house, I went through the other rooms but besides basic furniture, there wasn't anything of interest. No more deadly traps hiding radioactive crap. I was upset at my previous encounter. Before going down, I Decomposed the clothes I was wearing, including the pajamas. I had a sample of each piece in storage and I didn't want to run any risks.

Downstairs, I called for everyone.

"Okay, I finished clearing the upper floor. There's a metal wall in the master bedroom. Do not go near it. I threw some tapestries and the other items in there through the balcony. I want the bear pelt washed and cleaned. I'll let each of you take an item, any item from the stuff up there. Starting with the children. Get something that will help you remember your mothers. A dress, a trinket. You choose. Then everyone can get one item for yourselves, so long it is worth less than a silver mina. I want everything else cleaned and packed for sale.

"After you are done doing that, let's eat lunch together."

The kids went upstairs. The widows left behind their clothes and the less valuable but more often-used trinkets and jewelry. They came back with trinkets like a necklace, a hair comb made of some creature's bone, a favorite dress, and other knickknacks. Then the others' took their pick. The women got what goes as fancy dresses for the current fashion sense and the guards went for Hama-Tula's fancy togas. The rest of the items would go to the market for sale.

We ate the kebabs Belle made and everyone went on with their errands. Except for the children. They had the afternoon free to play around. After I had Aristunn and another change the table with the charger to the other side so it would get sunlight in the afternoon, I had no plans. Maybe I should go shopping.

But I should take one of the guards as an escort. I went to the barracks after a while and got the end of the room assignment. The guard barracks were a thin and long building leaning against the wall. It had eight rooms plus one lounge with a bunk bed in each room. It was cramped but not as much as the slave pens.

"... And with that, we will have two rooms left for new recruits. I think that with only eight guards we will have a hard time protecting the lady. I hope you understand. In fact, I'll suggest her we hire at least two more guards today."

They were assembled at the lounge. I leaned on the door.

"Consider your suggestion approved," I replied to Aristunn. "I'm going to the market now, I need to buy some things. Who is feeling well enough to escort me?"

"I can do," One of the guards raised his hand.

"Okay. How is your arm... Look, I am sorry I didn't ask for your names earlier," I sigh. "I should really take the time to get to know you and I'm sorry. There were so many things happening that these last few days passed like a blur. So, of the guards, I'd like the five of you to introduce yourselves. Tell me your name, how did you come into the service of the house, etc."

The guard that volunteered starts.

"My name is Lipit-Ea. I was captured in war from the coastal city-state of Binur to the south. They made me a eunuch and I had seven masters before Hamatula bought me. I know how to sail a boat and how to catch fish from the sea."

"The ocean! I'd like to see the seas," In fact, I would like to travel the world one day. "Are they dangerous? Are giant monsters a thing?"

Oww, what a stupid question. Me and my big mouth. Of course navigating is dangerous, you moron.

"I only heard legends. But it is hard to separate fact from myth if nobody survives. And even when we find survivors, they are too crazy to give a trustworthy report."

"How far is the sea?"

"Two months by caravan, Sandra." That should be twenty days on horseback. Three weeks. I miss internal combustion vehicles.

"Oh. That's a long trip. Is the way safe... nevermind. I guess it is not. Bandits, monsters, rage-apes, roving armies... Right?" And there we go again. Jumping to conclusions.

"Yes, pretty much that. Although rage-apes are rarely seen to the south."

"Well, we can certainly put that on our wishlist. Who wants to go next?"

"I'll go," A somewhat overweight guard raises his hand. I know that he is strong as an ox because he was the one moving water barrels around. "I'm Tiwatura. I lived in a city-state to the west, down in the dragon river. We were raided, captured, and sold. I was the village chieftain."

"Good to know. I'll count on you to advise me on political issues then, I guess."

"It will be my pleasure. I don't like to brag, but my village was very prosperous. That's why we were targeted."

I shift my gaze to the next guard in line. He was fidgeting and nervously brings his open palm to his heart.

"Name's Dipa-Tsu, mistress! Sandra!" He hurriedly corrects himself. "I-I am twenty-five and served Hama-Tula ever since he married. My parents were slaves of his father. I really appreciate what you did for the children. To be honest, I would like to follow the young master when he comes of age next year."

He seems afraid exactly because that could be considered by some employers - not masters, they are free - as a sign of treason. I wave a hand and smile at him.

"You mean you want to work for Rimush? I see no problem with that, Dipa-Tsu. I admire your loyalty and sincerity. Just make sure he doesn't let his greed consume him like what happened to his father."

"I'll try. Thank you, Sandra."

I turned to face the next guard. He returned the eye contact fearlessly. This guard was older than the others, I'd put him in the thirties. He had lots of scars and his skin was rugged. It was like he participated in hundreds of battles. He had precise movements and the aura of a predator.

"I am Huzzi-Ya, a former gladiator at the capital. I fought for glory for five years until I received an injury to my leg. I survived that duel but it was obvious that my next fight would be my last. My master sold me to Hama-Tula. I can still fight and defend the Lady and this household, even though my mobility is compromised."

"I don't doubt your prowess for even a moment, master Huzzi-Ya. There's a saying in my land that if you know yourself and your enemy, you do not need to fear a thousand battles. If I can ask of you, oversee the training of the guards. Especially regarding working together. I promise I'll join when I can, so we can know what to expect from each other."

I could see the gleam in his eyes. He liked my proposal.

"It will be my pleasure, mistress." He didn't even blink on the 'mistress' part, as if it was only natural to address me like this.

Then it was time for the last guard. This guy was taller than the others and very well-built. He wore a sleeveless tunic some slaves were given even though he took clothes from the closet. He had light brown hair and dark skin, an odd combination.

"I am Sin-Ma-Sihu. I lived in my own land, across the ocean when slave traders captured me and brought me to this land. I was bought by Banunu as a pleasure slave but I incurred Hama-Tula's wrath. He spared my life but made me a eunuch guard. I'm a very good shot with a bow."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Nice. Do you wish to return to your homeland?"

He shook his head. I could see that even thinking of his homeland was painful.

"Everything there was destroyed. Everyone I know, dead or captured and shipped overseas. There's nothing for me there."

"Maybe there's something for you here then. As long as you wish, I'll have a spot for you."

I extended a hand to him. To my surprise, he took the hand and kissed my fingers.

"Thank you, mistress."

Oookay. Introductions were done, I feel like a weight has lifted off of my shoulders. I wasn't in a perfect state of mind during the last few days. Going with the flow, ignoring reality, cocooned within my own mind for self-preservation. Time to change things.

"Good. Guys, I'll take Huzzi-Ya and Lipit-Ea with me to the market. I need Huzzi to evaluate prospective guards. Tiwatura, you go with Sin-Ma-Sihu and get us a lot of sand, clay, and gravel. The others should watch over the gate and rest for the night shift."

They shout acknowledgment. Then Aristunn raises a good point.

"If you are going to the market, Sandra, you should put on your gold choker and earrings. Maybe even some bracelets too. It might not get you the best prices as the merchants will refuse to bargain lower but it will make them act with respect toward you. I have a hunch you'd prefer the latter."

He has an excellent point. I spend twenty minutes making gold thread from the chunks of gold I extracted from the irradiated coins, then another ten braiding it into a new choker and a bracelet. For the clasp, I use some copper that I can sever without damaging the gold. It added length to the choker so it was now a necklace. Same for the bracelet. It slacked so I ditched the copper and welded the gold around my wrist. I'd rather remake it.

We saddle the horses and depart for the market. On the way, Huzzi-Ya and I agreed on a sign. I had to be the one making the calls but I should observe Huzzi-Ya's hands. If his left hand was higher than the right, the candidate should be rejected. If the left hand was at the same level, below or hide, the candidate should be approved.

I need furniture, bedding, sheets, clothes. Sell the tapestries. I won't buy tapestry, maybe craft them later. Purchase some barrels of salt, tallow, essential oils, some citrus fruit like lemons or others, myrrh, incense, candle wax, and some root vegetables. Yes, I will buy beets, potatoes, radishes. If someone asks I'm doing that for the animals. Maybe raise pigs.

The trip through the market went fine in the beginning. Since we were buying things in bulk, the merchants would deliver them later via cart, some of them even splitting the costs among themselves. I only had trouble with the citrus fruit vendor. They didn't have lemons but they had this tangerine variation that could reach incredible levels of sourness.

"I want the sourest ones. How many do you have?" I told him.

"No! The lady must not eat this fruit! They're too sour, the lady deserves my best."

And as Aristunn prophetized, the merchants marked up their stuff and I got 'only the better'. As if salt had any better variant.

"Okay. Say, how much for a bag of fruit?"

"For the lady, I'll take a loss and sell the bag at one silver shekel and three copper minas."

"Oh. But you have sour fruit. How can I possibly know if the bags are only sweet fruit on top? I'll pay only one copper mina per bag."

The merchant smiled with his eyes. The game was on.

"I can assure you the fruit I'll sell you has only the sweetest fruit. Juices that will feel like nectar from heaven. Since the lady is so knowledgeable, I'll sell each bag for one silver shekel and one copper mina only."

The bags had about five or eight kilograms of fruit each. But I couldn't let him swindle me.

"I don't know. You see, I'm afraid these fruits might stain my hands, being so acidic. But since we came to the trouble of negotiating it, I'll not leave empty-handed. Two copper minas."

It went back and forth like that. Invent one silly excuse and make another bid. It went down to five copper mina a bag on his last offer when I delivered a coup de grace.

"I'll give you the benefit of doubt. But I'm afraid you are trying to hide the very good fruit from me. I'll pay you three copper mina on your fruit only if you sell me all your bags. Every single one. How many do you have there?"

"Th-thirty-seven, milady."

"three silver and two copper mina on all bags. You can go home earlier. What do you say?"

I could see the merchant was pissed at me. He made some calculations and made a devious face.

"I can't deliver you the fruit today, milady. Tomorrow morning, I'll have the thirty-seven bags delivered to your house. I have some customers that are coming today. If you want to take a bag with you now, I can arrange that."

I knew he was going to do the good old switcheroo. He was going to deliver me the sourest fruit he had. And it suited me just fine.

"Yes, that is fine," I paid him and took a bag he gave me. "I hope to do business with you again."

"Yes, but I'll be broken now. All my fruit..." He was exaggerating.

I left. The sour fruit would be the best for me, as I wanted the citric acid. With Decompose I could try to separate the components of the juice. It would be hard because I had no familiarity with the compounds but I had to start somewhere. The citric acid was important to make PH-neutral soap.

The other trades weren't as stressful as the citrus fruit. Then we went to the caravanserai. I had four horses with the animal merchant that belonged to me and we needed to hire two guards. We rode past the gate, drawing just curious glances. The merchants that settled next to the entrance gates were either those interested in either selling refreshments to weary travelers or keeping tabs on who was coming in or out. The three of us made a beeline for the tavern.

I couldn't hire normal, as in with the dangling bits still attached, guards because it would be a scandal for a household with a Lady to have virile guards. The only ones that employed virile guards were male merchants for their caravans. But there were free eunuchs that offered their services, usually in three-year contracts. They relied on reputation for employment and word-of-mouth would be fatal. As agreed, I'd leave Huzzi-Ya conduct negotiations while Lipit-Ea would hound around me.

I felt as if I was being showcased. We left our horses in front of the tavern and entered it. I felt like Clint Eastwood. The music stops, every eye on me... Except it didn't happen. The patrons glanced our way and went on to ignore us. There was a group that glanced then quickly hid. The guards for the three merchants that departed today. Considering the number of tankards on their table, the silver was well-spent.

I went to a corner table and sat while Lipit-Ea stood with his back to me and doing his best menacing face. Not even the barmaid came to take my order. I was growing bored when Huzzi-Ya arrived with eight candidates. They started to do their introductions and I had my own selection tool ready under the table, the tablet. I knew I was being biased and probably discarding good choices but having only people that couldn't hurt me helped my own sense of safety. The standard contract for guards was three-years-long and their pay was nine copper shekels per day. I was paying 33% more right off the bat.

"Mistress," Huzzi-Ya started, "these eunuchs here are all available for hire and showed interest in working for you. They all have at least five years of experience as guards, both in caravans and in households. Introduce yourselves."

I could see they had scars on their arms and, in some cases, faces. Their hands were rough, callused from wielding weapons for too long.

"I am Muta-Nani. I am deadly with a scimitar and promise to cut down the lady's enemies!" The first one spoke. Not what I want for a guard and I don't want thugs. Pass.

"Milady, I'm Usalla. It would be an honor to serve under Tarhun's Blessed Maiden." I had mixed feelings with this one. It felt like he'd worship me a bit too much. Like attempting to punish people because they slighted me, or forcing them to show the level of respect he expects. But Huzzi-Ya had his hands behind his back so I shifted my gaze to the next one.

"Greetings. I'm Atta-Li. I swear to protect you and your household with my life if needed." He almost knelt. He had the right attitude at least. I forgot to check Huzzi-Ya's opinion, but I couldn't keep glancing at him after each candidate's turn.

"Name's Kanu-Kasu. I traveled for eight years with caravans to the corners of the world. Now I want some quiet. I am very good at haggling." This guy seemed a veteran, just like Huzzi-Ya. Speaking of the arena veteran, he was scratching his head with the right hand and his chest with the left so I could catch what was his opinion.

"I'm Manni-Manna. I am a minor sorcerer and I must work for the mistress. Your inner light shines so strong it blinds me. Even without pay, I'd pledge my life to you." A sorcerer for free? I'd still pay him though.

"Iru-Nasu. I'm good with children so I'll watch over the lady's offspring." No, thank you. You can help me organize my day-care though.

"Zinwa-Seli. I have night eyes and love to do the night watch. No caravan I've traveled with was ever robbed at night." I wonder if this is some sort of perk or special power like mine.

"Lah-Ueri here. I worked the mines for ten years before jealous miners assaulted me and I became a eunuch." And that was the last one. The miner part was really interesting.

There were several interesting candidates. My dilemma was that I'd never been to a job interview, much less conducted one. Before this, I mean. I needed time to think but thanks to my memory perk I could replay their introductions in my head. Aside from storage, repair, and Decompose, I learned too little about what my perks could do. So to buy time, I decided to do a little test.

"Gentlemen, I want the eight of you to sit at a table and order whatever you want. I'll discuss it with my guards here and tell you my decision soon. Please, leave me for a while."

Some of them didn't like it. Usalla, Zinwa-Seli, and Kanu-Kasu. My guess is that they wanted me to make a quick decision or they were too prideful. My eyes wandered through the tavern and I could see that the guards that departed this morning were looking at me.

"Huzzi-Ya, what do you think? I'm sorry but I couldn't see all your signals. I am thinking of Kanu-Kasu, Manni-Manna, Iru-Nasu, and Lah-Ueri. Do you have anything against these men?"

"Kanu-Kasu definitely. I know him and he is trustworthy. Iru-Nasu is no good. You need guards, not a nanny. Manni-Manna is complicated. We normal folks don't like sorcerers and the witch might not like him because he will pester her for knowledge. The old miner, I know you'll make a point to keep him. The men told me of your fascination for the rocks."

Not what I wanted to hear but I really wanted to hire Kanu-Kasu and Lah-Ueri.

"So what other two we will hire in place of the two you rejected?" I asked in a low voice. There were too many necks craning my way already.

"Take Zinwa-Seli and Atta-Li. They seem good guards and they have a good evaluation from the caravaneers. Their claims are very accurate."

I had to trust my advisor. I had zero experience hiring guards and the reason I brought the grizzled arena veteran was exactly that. I had nothing against the ones he indicated.

"Then it is settled. I'll trust your judgment. Should we go and get the horses? I still want to do some work today."

We still had two hours of sunlight. I wanted to check if Tiwatura got the materials I needed. I told the four we recruited they were hired and went to the horse merchant. Despite my worries, once I showed proof that I owned the possessions of the merchants and paid the fees owed, he released the horses. The seven of us mounted and went back home.

At the gates, I dismounted and had Penny follow the guards. I looked at the front of the sandstone brick villa and stood there, thinking.

I was quite satisfied with the afternoon's results. I bought almost everything I needed for my immediate projects, hired people without having to trample my principles, refreshed my mind, found radioactive treasure, renovated and claimed my house, got to know my staff.

Except that...

I don't know all the children's names.

Now that's what I call a screwup. I need therapy. No, seriously. I was a piece of flotsam at the mercy of the waves during the last few days. It was as if I was dreaming and only woke up today. Self-loathing hitting in 3, 2, 1...

I was thrown, naked, into a river with a tentacle monster. Then because I cheated a man died. The next three merchants come and stupid me decides to let them stab me. Cut to the courthouse where I thought my video would just prove that I won and a bloodfest ensues. I become a slave merchant and... I think my mind started to shut down when I saw that caravan die.

Part of me decided everything wasn't real. That I would wake up back in my dorm. My mind cleared up. What changed? I'd like to say it was the uranium like I touched radioactive ore and it cleared my mind, would make a good story but I was already clearing up before finding that room.

Maybe it was the resolve to own my decisions and their consequences. When I let my slaves walk away free. When I looked at the people I surrounded myself with and saw them as people.

I picked up a piece of gravel from the ground. Decomposed it. Separated the silicon from the oxides. Aluminum and a bit of calcium in a hydrated complex. Maybe some iron.

This is real.

I had twelve children, two teenage girls, ten guardsmen, and four elders under my responsibility... And a witch guest. I didn't know what Nanna was to me, really. And we should add seven horses to that. I had to take care of them and proper sanitation was the first step.

I shook off my daze and glanced up at the alien sky of a moonless world. I felt the urge to start working, to make something to use that last hour of sunlight to do something. I forced myself to stop. If I was here for the long run, I should pace myself for a marathon, not a short sprint.

I had to take it slow. Think over things instead of just doing it. I went into the house and found them.

"Rimush, gather all the children. I want to talk to all of you."

Then I had the children introduce themselves. In order of age.

Rimush, the oldest son of Hama-Tula and Banunu. Thirteen years old, he was overprotective of his siblings and hopefully would become smarter than his father. In less than a year he'll come of age and will depart with Dipa-Tsu to strike out on his own. If he proved he can sustain his siblings and wished to do so, I'd let him take them.

Pidda, second son. Twelve years old and one year and two months younger than Rimush. He idolized his father and I suspect he still held some resentment toward me.

Belili, first daughter. Ten years old but about to become eleven in two months. She is shy and usually looks up to her older brothers for guidance. I wish I could instill more confidence in her.

Muranu, third son and Rubati's firstborn. turned nine a few months ago. I think he got his father's cunning but he is the kind that waits to strike at the right moment.

Anaya, second daughter, and Rubati's daughter. Eight years old. She was very attached to her mother and had bouts of sadness every now and then.

Kiya, third daughter, also eight years old, born from Banunu. Although she is older than Anaya by five months, both sisters are very close to each other. Kiya was usually the one to soothe her sister's crisis.

Hapiya, fourth son from Rubati's side, seven years old. He has difficulty with his motor skills and is lagging behind in the writing lessons.

Gadudu, seven years old and son of Banunu, is also seven but younger than Hapiya. He is afraid of me and quick to hide behind are siblings.

And the three copper-skinned girls I took from the slave trader. Their ages are unknown but they are all close to each other in size and body shape. Gula, Mot, and Bibi. They have a strong follower mentality born from witnessing their former slaves suffer. The three girls are stoic and quiet but they are slowly opening up. I can only pray we would be granted enough time to heal their mental scars.

I committed their names to memory and dismissed the children after Arwia came to make them take a bath.

I went outside and checked on the supplies that were delivered, checking everything and reminding the guards that would be on the morning shift, Ananu and Lipit-Ea that I expected thirty-seven bags of tangerines in the morning. Of the other items I bought, only the furniture wasn't delivered yet. The guards that I sent to gather sand and gravel brought back a small cart full of each. The gravel was too big for what I wanted so I had another task tomorrow, break down these rocks into a fine particulate.

Maybe I could get a rock crusher forged. I asked Ananu to wake me up before sunrise so I would have time to run by the smithy to commission one. On my way back, I retrieved the charger, battery, and table. I drained the battery charge a lot these past days so it didn't reach full charge even though it spent the whole day charging.

With everything settled, I took a bath after the children and retired to my bedroom. Belle would bring me dinner because I had a huge task ahead of me.

I needed to classify and record all the photos Tarhun took into a database. I had no GPS and I couldn't even find myself in these ten thousand plus pictures. I booted up the laptop and wrote a simple shell script that would read the photos EXIF data and dump it as a JSON file. 163 MB of text data after what felt like an eternity. I opened the first few lines and found the problem. I was storing the full path with the filename. Write another script to fix the output of the first one and work with the constraint that everything had to be in the same directory.

Belle came with a bowl of soup. While the script ran, I went to bed and had my soup there to avoid spilling anything on the world's only computer. After I returned I started to write a simple HTML document with a jQuery script to load the database, and display one photo in the center of the screen along with parts of the eight adjacent ones around under a fog-like mask over them at the edges of the screen. But I don't know what the adjacent images are. I could calculate it on the spot but it would reduce performance as the script would need to look through the whole database. I needed to pre-process the coordinates to find the adjacent pictures, record it in the database so the script would know what files to load. It meant adding four columns to each entry.

I bet there was a more elegant solution but that's the limit of my ability. And the limit of my patience too. I stretched and found it was too dark outside. I stored my items and went to bed.