In hindsight, maybe trying to get everything sorted in one day was a bad idea but who knew that nothing would happen for weeks? No calamity, no new news, no contact from any other tribe. Simply nothing.

I look over at the newly constructed Market Square, filled flooring with a mosaic picture of a spear in the center pointing towards the Grand Hall. The first actual building we made. Bone protruding from the corners, Steery Wood combining as its main material to create this building.

I look over to my side and see Panara tossing some Emmeraude up and down. We are currently on a balcony in the Chieftan's house. I and Zarhan share this house to rule from here and to discuss our next plans. He still has no wife and I hope to remedy that soon. Meena is such a good fit for him but he doesn't have the courage to talk to her about it. I can see how he occasionally glances at her but his insecurities get to him.

Panara finally got to me, she pestered and begged that we make our relationship formal but I snaked away by calling it courting. Now, something that I considered a normal response to not fully commit to Panara as I feel that we are going too quickly in our relationship actually blew out of proportion. The term courting actually exploded within our village and people actually felt good about it. They stopped being so direct with relationships. Just last week one of the younger adults that heard about it and tried to court one of the younger women. Although in my eyes the courting was terrible and beyond cheesy like in an American sitcom but she loved it and they are now in a relationship.

I need to hold myself back otherwise too great of a change may hamper the previous values that the Mrentoni had before. I lucked out this time that courting was just an outlier and had nothing to do with honor or what not. Well, it kind of did, honor was one of the things the Mrentoni brought up when courting one another. This can lead to an unhealthy relationship if left unchecked as people may pick and choose through honor and not what the other party truly wants. I naturally stressed this soon after realizing it.

This isn't like my company, sure it was hectic at times but not on this scale, I had people that handled the tedious bits but here, just me and Zarhan. Zarhan himself is not much of an administrator. He can be a good diplomat and a strong warrior but specifics in administration just baffles him sometimes. That's why I let him handle the affairs with the Boirans.

Speaking about the Boiran's, they have fully settled down on the river which they named "The Iron Way". A name that makes sense considering they made a bloody fortress at the river made from our Steery Wood. The way part seemed a bit weird but later I learned that the river has a split path that leads somewhere, neither of our people knows where. The other side leads up to a mountain which had a deposit of Emmeraude. They happily traded the Emmeraude for our goods. Rather, I feel like we got the better end of the deal since Emmeraude is much stronger than any Steery Wood we have. The Inferno Stalks also were traded off at a cheap price.

I sigh. I honestly need more people to be here. Although growth has been rising, five children are not enough, we need more people from other tribes to join us otherwise we will be here forever. Thank Moruna that children don't stay children for long. The Mrentoni grow naturally faster than most simply because of our environment and teaching. By instilling them with the quest to gain honor early in their lives, they mature mentally and begin doing work when they matured physically. Three of the children that I have met when I first came here was about five months old and became full adults at six months.

I jump off the balcony and land in the Market Square. So far, it is void of stalls or shops but that will eventually change. I built this early to push for privatization. Eventually, I need to install a currency system so that I can fully comprehend our growth economically. So far, every family holds a house of their own and will stay their own after me and Zarhan fully privatize our village. After implementing the currency, we can grant incentives to people who want to start a business.

The square itself is no longer than 100 m in diameter, rather big for our clearing but I considered it necessary as this will be the heart of the empire soon enough, the housing will eventually move to the lower clearings that we have yet to build on. From the six paths, I could take I took the one right of the Grand Hall. It leads to the makeshift laboratory that we constructed made partially from Emmeraude and Bones.

At some point, we discovered that the heat created from Inferno Stalks doesn't get blocked by everything. We found that anything with a metallic structure can easily be heated up by it but complex molecular structures that wood or stone have blocked it. My rudimentary knowledge of molecular chemistry led me to believe that a metallic structure gives a direct path through the structure but anything complex will knock it back.

So now the Emmeraude has risen in value for us. I considered to reveal this knowledge to the Boirans but they actually found that too and brought the news to us. That didn't make them lower the price of the Emmeraude though.

Knocking on the door I wait for an answer.

"Come inside Chieftan." Calls out Meena.

I walk in and see Meena loom over some Shimmering Suzzy Shells. She picks up a piece of Steery Wood and files it, creating small glittering dust that flows around her. The underwater environment doesn't make a stable area to conduct experiments. She files some more before she stops and tries to collect some of it using her hands. The rest of it drops to the ground.

"What brings you here my Chieftan?" She asks.

"How is the progress with anything really?"

"Well, the Inferno Stalks are still growing so I have no conclusive evidence that tearing a piece off would create a new one and any attempts to capture the process of its growth in its natural habitat came up empty. However, I still can't seem to find the right size of the dust from Shimmering Suzzy Shells to be used as currency. I can't melt it as it's not metallic in nature so that failed and grinding it into dust just doesn't work underwater." She sighs at the end. It's been tough for her also, although she enjoys to science the shit out of everything we bring her, she is the only willing participant. The rest of the people either enjoy hunting, working or harvesting the resources.

"Get some rest Meena, it's not crucial at the moment, I and Zarhan still need to finish with privatization. Why don't you move up to the Boirans and try to find some clue on the land after you had some time off?"

I try to spend more time with Meena to get a feel for her as her profile came up with no wants after I brought her to the position of scientist when she got fed up with harvesting the Shimmering Suzzy's. Zarhan is still the unhappiest person in the village because of his anxiety with women so I tried to get Meena and Zarhan together.

She is a workaholic. Work first, family later is the kind of women she is. I think that I spent enough time with her over the weeks so I think Operation Cupid is a go.

I begin. "Say Meena, what do you think of Zarhan?"

Without missing a beat, she answers. "Zarhan is a wonderful Chieftan and warrior that I hold in deep admiration. Why would you ask that?"

"I don't mean what do you think of his achievements, I'm asking what do you think about him specifically?"

"Hmmmmm." She ponders for a bit. "I would have to say he is strong in character and decisive in everything he does!"

She is also an airhead when it comes to people. She is preceptive and intelligent but when it comes to people she can be completely off. Zarhan has feelings for her and is completely indecisive about what to do to express himself. Using her lack of experience with people I will try to bring them together.

"Then why don't you talk to him much? Surely if he is that strong you would consider to court him?" This was a risky question but knowing her weakness is this I gave it a go.

"Why would he even consider me? Surely you are joking Cheiftan, he likes someone else and besides, I want a man to court me instead." She happily dreams. "Don't tell anybody though!" She switches to a defensive tone.

"Fine, whatever, just get some sleep you work-horse."

"Fine Chieftan, I'll see you next time then. Bye!" She waves me off.

Closing the door, I head back to the balcony, Panara still throwing that piece of Emmeraude, bored out of her mind.

"Why don't you just get a hobby or something Panara?"

"Gherman you know damn well I tried everything there is to do, it's all soo dull, no spirit no fighting, the fish in the Steery Wood forest is not that tough and taking 5 of them at once only brushes me with excitement, why don't you fight me?"

She also is way too comfortable with me around but then again, we are basically married without it being official.

"I can alleviate that boredom, want to join me in a secret quest?" She perks up.

"What is it Gherman?"

"I'm trying to get Zarhan wed, he has been eyeing Meena for a while now but doesn’t have the guts to confess his feelings. Wanna help me get them together?"

She smirks. "Sure, but what should I do then?"

"I want you to go to Zarhan and force any information out of him, he will surely listen to you."

"Are you sure you are a benevolent ruler Gherman? Are you using your soon to be wife as muscle to get your subordinate to scoff up information? Hahahaha!" She laughs and swims to find Zarhan. A bloody loon is always useful.

Now that I have my muscle off getting the information I go back inside the Chieftan's house and look for some Shimmering Suzzy Shells and some rope. A gift will be easier for Zarhan to convey what his feelings are.

While making a small necklace I wait for Panara to come back with the information.

She leaps through the balcony opening and jiggles excitingly as she conveys what she found. "Wow! Gherman, Zarhan was so pitiful back there, he told me that he can't court her because she already has someone in mind! What a joke!" She is now literally roffling.

Also, seriously they are meant for each other, both think that the other has someone already! Fine, this is good, Operation Cupid going swimmingly. Time to get them to meet.

"Panara, try to get Meena to the Market Square at Urm-Down, we will make a romantic setting where they will convey their feelings and be happy forever knowing that they truly are meant for each other! I will bring Zarhan over!"

"What if they both try to run away?"

"We beat it into them of course, but be gentle with Meena."

She calms down after we set in motion the last part of the Operation.

Swimming over to our targets, we bring them to the Market Square to create that meeting. Finding Zarhan near the makeshift forge I abduct him and bring him closer to the Square.

"Zarhan take this, we have to hurry back to the Chieftan house. This is very important!" I put on my best act.

"Of course, kin Gherman!"

We speed across the road and arrive at the Square. I see Panara and Meena on the other side. We give each other a signal that we are ready.

"Zarhan, take this necklace and give it to Meena and court her! This is very important!"

"Yes, kin Gherma... Wait what! I c-c-can't do that, Meena has someone already!" He stampers out.

"Zarhan." I crack my knuckles. "Didn't I tell you that it is very important you do this. You don't want to get beat up do ya?" I start acting like I'm a mafioso.

"Alright, alright, I'll go!" He runs away pitifully. Panara herself had Meena covered with fewer threats and she was also swimming over to Zarhan.

We both watch from opposite ends as they converge at the center and start saying something.

Zarhan shoves the necklace into Meena's hands and swims away into the Chieftan's house in a panic after declaring. "CAN I COURT YOU KIN MEENA?!"

I laugh, he is just like a teenager!

Meena seems utterly confused and just stands there holding the necklace. She then puts on the necklace, smiles and walks away god knows where.

I and Panara meet in the center.

"Operation Cupid was a success!"