The carriage entered Abil-Kisu estate and we went to the tent to eat lunch. The food was already served and everyone was waiting on the master of the house to eat. The layered table setup was used again, with Arwia, Belle and the children sitting on the second and third layers. We went to the first one.

"Friends," Abil-Kisu spoke. "We have a new Enshi. The line of Es-Kina lives, and the rebuild of the town will soon follow. Marduk's army was disbanded and now their remnants roam the land as bandits. Which shall be dealt with soon. It is a time for celebration. Although the worst was avoided, we will have hardships ahead."

He sat and clapped his hands twice. The servants came and put plates with food in front of us. I ate mostly out of obligation. I was fighting to keep the memories of the ruined camp suppressed. I ate in silence. Abil-Kisu even tried to start a conversation about our soap, but I, unfortunately, evaded it. I wasn't in the mood.

"I'm sorry, Abil-Kisu. I have to dispose of the hazardous material. I promise we will talk later."

I moved to the edge of the carpet and looked at my high heels. It wasn't a piece that shone because of its design but for its materials. I summoned my carry-on and stored them inside, taking my sneakers instead. For the first time, I felt my storage limited. I mean, I was carrying seven or eight bags worth of stuff that came from Earth with me - or was recreated, the technicalities mattered little - and a lot of things I picked up here and there. In total it should be more than a ton of things. It was a lot and a marvel and there was me, complaining about limitations.

I was about to leave when I remembered what I was wearing. I went back to the guest room I was wearing and noticed it had been cleaned and tidied. I removed the jewelry and changed to my usual explorer outfit with the hiking boots and the falconry bracer. Lamenting the lack of a full-body mirror, I went to the stables to get Penny.

I walked out through the front gate and made my way home. Ananu and Huzzi-Ya were helping defend the gate and offered to follow me but I refused. I felt strong enough to face whatever this world threw at me. And part of me wanted to be defeated. But having Penny and Dime with me was enough escort. As we went down the street, the mare nudged me, trying to make me climb on her back.

"I'm walking today. Walk with me," I told her.

She wanted to run, of course. I remembered I needed graphite to mix with the uranium and decided to make a stop by one of the ruined blocks to gather some from the ashes. I mounted Penny and let her run wild. The speed junkie mare trotted down the mostly deserted streets and went past our own gate. I saw two city guards guarding the gate and the movement of more men inside. I didn't have time to interact with them as Penny galloped past.

It didn't take long to find a city block destroyed by the flames. Some people were rummaging through the debris, probably looking for some valuables to loot or their lost mementos. By the charred frames that were precariously standing up, it looked like a residential/mixed block. Those kinds have a shop on the lower floor and one or two apartments on top. Dime landed on the ridge of a roof on the other side of the street.

I wanted to start Decomposing everything but I had no idea to whom I should talk. I didn't want to push and force things. Maybe I should find somewhere abandoned. I rode past that block and went through several others. It seemed that looting burnt blocks was the most common activity in the city.

After spending one hour in this futile search, I went back to the first one and joined the search. The people rummaging through the debris changed but one man in his forties or fifties was searching the same area. I got down and approached.

"Excuse me, sir! Could you spare a moment to talk to me?"

The man stopped searching and looked at me. He seemed worn out and had enough soot on him to make London chimney cleaners look spotless.

"What do you want, miss? This here is my house!" He didn't seem to want to make new friends.

"Name's Sandra Rinaldi, sir. Pleased to meet you."

"I'm Bur-Maat. I can't say I'm pleased with anything."

"I understand, Bur-Maat. I'm not interested in looting the place for valuables, I just wanted to offer my help cleaning up the debris."

I approached. Some burnt wooden furniture was thrown out of the block and it crunched under my boots.

"What can a weak lass like you do?"

I sighed. "Depending on the day, defeat an invading army to almost nothing, sir. But I can try if you let me."

He shook his head in disbelief. "You want to get here and muck through the ashes?" He got irritated when I nodded. "Well, the other looters weren't polite enough to ask. What do you really want here?"

"The ashes, Bur-Maat. I want the ashes from the wood."

"What for?" He was suspicious. There was an undertone of aggression in his voice. "Do you make soap?"

I nodded. "I do make soap but that's not my goal today. I need the ashes so I can reuse them. Turn them into something new." I was drawing the attention of the other looters. "What are you looking for here? Some memento?"

"My wife! She was bedridden when the fire struck. She must be somewhere around here!"

I lowered my head, "I'm sorry for your loss, sir."

"Would you help me find my wife?" He asked with a soft voice, his anger at my interruption spent.

"Why don't we make a deal. Sell me the ashes of your house. I'll take my ashes away and it will make it easier to reach the body of your wife."

He waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. "Keep your coin. With the amount these greedy merchants are charging, you'll need it to buy food. Come here and get your ash, girl."

I bowed. "Thank you, Bur-Maat."

I checked the charred beams. The thing would crumble at any moment. There was still a significant amount of mass up there and anyone caught underneath would be seriously injured. It was obvious I would have to start working from the top or take down the whole structure. But I had to find his wife first. I activated my senses and scanned for sources of calcium. My range was crap, only a few centimeters away from my body. But that was already a big advancement. I had to touch the material and concentrate before.

It was my first defeat of the day. Wood ash from open-air fires is mostly calcium carbonate, depending on the type of wood. This was one of them. In fact, the feeling I had was very similar to slag but with more carbon and less heavy metals. I needed to leave the calcium alone or I'd risk damaging the bones. I didn't have the skill to make power do such distinction.

I prepared a one-liter carton that used to hold juice when it was on Earth. Using the trick of making the material flow over my hand and fall into the container, I started with the potash. Potassium chloride, sulfide, carbonate, very few in the form of hydroxide or oxide. I had to jump between compounds as I went by slowly, collecting them.

Next would be the carbon. I just gathered it into an ever-growing chunk of graphite. The blackness of the region was going away, sucked into my chunk of graphite that soon became too heavy to carry around. So I made another five.

The scavengers stopped to check on my work. Dime cawed from the nearest roof. I had to address them.

"Please do not approach. The structure is frail, and the sky-lord there is skittish regarding my protection."

After delivering my warning, I turned around to check the burnt wooden frame. Maybe I should just collapse the structure and try to control where it will fall. If it must fall on someone, let it be me. I looked behind me and they seemed to respect the boundaries I'd set.

The dust on the ground now is mostly calcium carbonate and sand. I can't move the calcium without risking to damage the corpse. I summon my spade and start shoveling the white dust away. I move slowly to avoid damaging something frail beneath. One hour goes by and the pile of white dust by the curb increased to make four mounds. Then I feel the spade pick up something heavy. I brush the dust aside and find her.

Bur-Maat knelt next to the corpse. He lifted and embraced her. The rugged man started to cry. I lowered my head in respect. He tried to carry her but the body creaked and threatened to snap.

"Wait, Bur-Maat. I can help you carry her," I put a hand on his shoulder.

I knew what to do. I took several disks of aluminum and created a coffin. It wasn't straight but would allow him to carry her if he had someone else to help. With the two of us, we put the body in the coffin. To my surprise, he lifted it on his own.

"Thank you. You can have everything else in here, I don't care. I'm going to bury my wife next to a field of her favorite flowers."

"Farewell, Bur-Maat. If you want to look for me, ask at the guard garrison."

He shook his head. "I'll go away. Move to another city. There are too many memories here."

The man and his dead wife moved away. Another destitute refugee. I took one silver mina from my handbag and ran to catch up with him. I slid the coin between his hand and the coffin. "Take this for the lot of your house."

He tried to smile. "At least put it in my pocket," He joked.

I went around and found the pocket sewn in his trousers. I slid the coin inside. "Peace."

He didn't answer and just went away.

I went back to my recently purchased lot. A scavenger tried to invade but Dime shrieked, making the person run away. With the spade, I shored against the frame and pushed. It creaked but didn't fall.

"I'm taking it down! Move away, please!" I shouted to the scavengers.

I went around and used Decompose to weaken it on the side I wanted it to fall on. Towards the center of the block. I went around, weakening the beams facing the middle. It creaked and I quickly crossed back to the front and pushed. The house's frame went down and sideways, pushing against the frame of the next house and causing a domino effect. The weight of the frame of that house knocked down the next and so on. The last burnt frame on this side of the block fell on the next street, blocking it.

A cloud of dust and ash lifted up. Maybe that wasn't the best way to solve it. I ran down the side street and reached the collapsed frame that was blocking the street. I Decomposed it into blocks of graphite, water, and salts. Now that I didn't have to worry about damaging the mortal remains of a person, I pulled all stops on my power. I extracted the elements in their raw form. Carbon and calcium, mostly. I created big chunks of graphite and several ingots of calcium that I placed in the plastic bag with the other metals. On a second sweep, I removed the metals and the potassium salts. I found some molten silver and copper chunks that I promptly gave to the scavengers.

It took me two hours after Bur-Maat left but the whole block was cleaned up. It looked like a kind of zen garden with the graphite rocks over the naked earth. I had my graphite and a tiny sliver of my peace of mind back. That's what my power was meant for. I could clean the damaged areas. I called Penny back and rode back home.

I recognized the soldiers guarding my home. They were the ones I spared several months ago. I waved at them and they stood at attention.

"Lady Rinaldi! Captain Brandon asked us to inform you the materials you requested are at the back, waiting for you."

I saluted them. They didn't recognize the gesture. "I will start working on it right away. Maybe we can go home earlier."

They just nodded and I entered. I could see that scavengers entered the place. The lawn was trampled, the window shutters, open. I doubt they stole the furniture but that was inconsequential. I could remake everything out of aluminum or silicon. At the back, two other soldiers were guarding the sphere holding the torbernite as well as the block with the radioactive contaminants I extracted from the treasure room.

"At ease," I told them. "I am going to fetch the third sample so I can dispose of them at once."

"Yes, milady," One of the soldiers answered.

I went inside and rushed upstairs. The scavengers made a mess of the mattresses, probably searching for coins. But the furniture seemed to be undamaged, just moved around. The master bedroom was still naked, covered in gray mortar. The wall that hid the secret chamber was still intact. Good. I checked the spot and moved to the roof through the balcony ladder. Scavengers came here too. I can see they decided to stick it to the man by doing to the upper class' residence what the upper class usually does to their lives.

And boy did it smell. Even after a day under the sun, it was still bad. I Decomposed it by removing the carbon and then the nitrogen. It became a saltwater pool with a chunk of graphite.

I moved over the spot where the secret room was and was about to poke a hole in the roof when I stopped to think. I was taking the uranium out of here. What reason did I have to keep the secret room closed? That was so stupid. I could have my own glow-in-the-dark closet. That was stupid too. It didn't glow. I sighed away my bout of stupidity and moved back to the main room. I carved the mortar over where I sensed the aluminum sheet and retrieved the metal. There was the aluminum-coated block of lead. I removed the metal in layers until I had a sphere of lead I could carry. I stored everything and left the broken mortar on the floor.

I had everything ready now. I had the soldiers move the material to the side of the lab building and dismissed them. They didn't need to be around. I opened a hole in the ground below me and the metal ball with the torbernite inside. I only stopped after five meters deep. The terror of burying myself and the explosion threatened to return. The silicon walls of the tunnel gave me shivers. I feared at any time the Prince would appear to claim his vengeance.

I made a bowl of lead and prepared the graphite by crushing it in a mortar and pestle made of silicon. Next, I opened the containers and pooled the ores. I had to reduce the volume so only the uranium and the graphite would stay in the core. I would surround the core with layers of different metals so I could peel the shielding easily later. It would also help deflect the gamma rays and disperse them due to diffraction.

So I triggered Decompose to separate the uranium from the other materials. The hydrated ore released its water and the liquid started to shed a faint blue glow.

Then I felt nausea.

A burning sensation all around my skin. The water boiled. The sensation of wrongness from the uranium increased. My muscles locked. The amount of power leaving me was similar to when I fought the lich. The phosphorus became red. The copper started to glow red. I saw shocked as the skin of my hand burned. I screamed in pain but it was just a faint whimper. I couldn't breathe.

It was hard to focus but all I could think was that it didn't happen like this the last time. But at that time, I removed the copper and phosphorus. This time I went for the uranium.

My ears and nose bled. So much for a blood-less day. My hand went numb. The burning sensation was now climbing up my wrist. I tried to move but my body didn't answer. I felt exhausted. Even so, I couldn't stop Decompose from working. I felt several different resonances. My hand was just shriveled skin wrapped around the bone. It kept going. I felt my skin burn, blisters forming everywhere. The only reason I wasn't blind yet was because I couldn't.

It felt like an eternity but then it ended. I looked at the bowl, a pool of molten lead glowed inside. I leaned backward inside the tunnel and was in too much pain. I wish I would faint. I was as drained as when I shattered the lich's heart. I looked up at the afternoon sky and it felt like it was spinning. I saw clouds passing over and I couldn't move. It was hot but I didn't sweat.

I couldn't move. I tried to use Decompose but it didn't respond. I tried sensing Penny and Dime and felt nothing. It scared me. Where were they? All I could do was focus on breathing. The sky became a faint orange and the world slowly surrendered itself to darkness.

The burning sensation faded. I could move my left hand and then my neck. I looked at my right hand, it was mummified. I felt a warm fluid flow over my body as the blisters popped. Then I felt a faint sign of panic. Then two.

Dime and Penny were running around the city, in panic. I called them through the link. My skin felt like when I spent the whole day playing at the beach without sunblock and then mom passed moisturizing lotion on me. It both prickled and felt good. My strength was coming back slowly. The heat was mostly gone too.

Dime landed next to the hole and cawed, afraid. I tried to send him calming feelings but I had none. He flapped his wings, shrieked, and made a ruckus.

"What does that bird want?" I heard a man's voice from somewhere.

"Take care. Sky-lords are treacherous. He might be luring you." Another man replied.

"Nonsense. That's lady Rinaldi's tame bird. It won't attack us," The first man rejoindered.

"Watch out, the horse is out of control!" A third shouted.

Penny ran toward me, stopping next to the hole and throwing tufts of dirt over me.

She whinnied and clopped.

"There's a hole in the ground!" The men were close now.

"Light a torch."

I tried to call a flashlight from storage but I couldn't access it. I felt itching in my right forearm.

Dime jumped back and the face of a soldier holding a torch appeared over the hole.

"It is Lady Rinaldi! She is wounded at the bottom of this hole! We need to get her out."

"Do you have a rope?"

I do. In the magical storage, I can't access it. I can't even shape the silicon. Decompose can't... Oh, it is back. I could feel the silicon behind and below me. I also noticed I couldn't feel any wrongness coming from the materials in this hole.

The lead in the bowl was a dead giveaway of what happened. I knew Decompose could accelerate natural processes, like the decay of wood. But we are talking about billions of years of "natural processes" to make that lead. Maybe that's why Decomposing tons of rock or slag is effortless.

Because the damned power was meant to neutralize radioactive matter.

I waved my hand around. Not a single trace. It is as if my body had absorbed all the emissions, however absurd that was. I had no way to prove though. It was all speculation. But I remembered the Death Snow and what Abil-Kisu told me of the Harbinger.

Marduk also called me the second Harbinger.

I didn't want to think about the implications. If most of my assumptions were true, it drew a plan that was very sinister in its making.

A plan that started with a phone call.

If I were paranoid, I could think this torbernite was meant to kill me. Nergal could predict the future as he told Marduk I would assassinate him but didn't tell how or when. He could've planted the torbernite not to kill the leaders but to get me. There's one big point in favor of this theory. Marduk is a local. How would he know about radiation?

I was thirsty. I tried and shaped a notch in the silicon my head touched. Yes, my strength is slowly returning.

Marduk said the Harbinger was Nergal's champion and I was Tarhun's. The enemy, the dark god that tempted me to betray Tarhun might be Nergal. If that is true, then I am a pawn in this game between the gods. And I will have to be wary against Nergal's next move.

"Hold on, miss. My companion is coming back with a rope!" The soldier tries to cheer me.

"Water..." I groan.

"I have some here. Can you catch it?"

I nod. He tosses a goatskin bag that sloshes. I grab it with my left hand and bring the tip to my mouth. I bite and remove the stopper and drink the warm and stale water. I feel the moisture goes down my esophagus. Hit my stomach. I want to drink it all but I know I should pace myself.

I also took a good look at the blisters. They are now just tender spots of baby pink flesh. My body seems emaciated as if the fat is gone. All of the fat. The itching on my right arm is also moving forward. Worse yet, my bra is loose.

"Thanks. Tell the men to not worry. I'll be able to get out on my own soon."

I take another swig from the waterskin. I need to pace myself or I'll vomit.

The first stars appear overhead.

I move my legs, grab the wall and shape a handhold. I prop myself standing. I try and store my boots and socks. Good. With only three limbs, I climb up. Slowly. Making deep handholds and footholds. The soldier lies on his stomach and reaches to grab me by the wrist. I move up as much as I can and he grabs me with both hands. The leather of his gloves prick my skin but I don't complain.

He pulls me up. I leave the wall and he lifts me. I'm amazed. Or is it because I am too light right now?

I lied on my stomach over the ground. The solder stood up, knelt and gently turned me around to pick me up.

"You seem to have used too much magic, milady," He tells me. "I've seen the senior magistrate Sun-Goro after your trial. He looked exactly like you do now.

"I'll recover. I just need a good night's sleep," I boasted, unsure if that was true or not.

He was carrying me to the villa. I used some time to think. Tarhun's boon said, "restore the body to a pristine condition". I needed to bet on that. I drank another swig of water. I felt as if my blood was still until now and the water made it resume flowing.

"I hope so, miss. If you forgive my curiosity, I heard rumors you were stabbed in the heart with a dagger, is that true?"

"Yes. It is all true. But I wouldn't believe it myself if I weren't the one being stabbed. And tossed in the abyss. And... the army... I don't want to talk about that."

He glanced down at me and replied, "Fair enough, milady."

"At least Marduk's poison was neutralized. But I needed to take in its effects."

He chuckled. "You still look better than the Enshi."

I heard another soldier clear his throat, "I might need to tell Captain Brandon you are flirting with the lady, Gadudu."

I could swear the guy would drop me right away. His arms lost some strength but he held on to me.

"I think I can stand. You can put me down, Gadudu. And if Brandon gets angry at you, I'll bonk him on the head."

He did. I could stand up but I really shouldn't. I wobbled and tried to hold on to his shoulder with my right hand. The mummified right hand. Gadudu squealed in a very unmanly way and I fell on my butt.

I summoned my sleeping bag and rolled over it. "Maybe I'll just stay here and rest. Could you guys watch over me? I think I'll sleep now."

They hit their chests over the heart with their fists. But it wasn't with the thumb facing outward. It was more like if they were knocking on wood. But they also didn't have gas-powered harpoon throwers.

Yes, I was going to recover just fine. Even my superpower of thinking of silly things in the most inadequate of moments was coming back.

I closed my eyes and quickly fell asleep.