Mandrake made a tiny cut in the rubble blocking the entrance and peeked outside.
"Yep, all clear," he said.
Then, he grabbed Kyle's hammer and cleared the entrance with one smash.
As Kyle took his hammer back, he looked at the clear night sky.
The two of them walked out and looked around.
They couldn't see any beast.
"Yeah, I gotta go somewhere else to earn money now," Mandrake said. "I don't think any beasts will show themselves in the next couple of hours."
"Sorry," Kyle said.
"Why sorry?" Mandrake asked. "You were not the one who summoned the Skysand cloud."
"Yeah, sure," Kyle said.
Mandrake looked at Kyle suspiciously.
Then, he remembered where Kyle came from and how he knew about the Stygian Graphite.
Mandrake put his hand to his forehead in realization.
"Wait, you actually were the one who excited the Skysand cloud, right?" he asked.
Kyle felt bad about lying to Mandrake, and he just looked down.
"AHAHAHAHA!"
Mandrake broke into loud laughter.
Then, he slapped Kyle's back with a lot of force, almost making him fall over.
"You're a great guy, Kyle!" he shouted in laughter. "You traveled through a dormant Skysand cloud. I don't know anyone who is that courageous!"
"Or stupid," Kyle whispered.
Mandrake just laughed more.
"Don't mind it!" Mandrake shouted. "Yes, it was dangerous, but I wouldn't have died. I know how to take care of myself. Also, you told me about the Stygian Graphite. That more than makes up for the Skysand cloud!"
"Sorry," Kyle said again.
"It's fine!" Mandrake shouted. "You're a good man, Kyle!"
"Anyway, I have to get going," Mandrake said. "Do you want to know where the Fire Coast is?"
"Sure," Kyle answered.
Mandrake described the way to the Fire Coast to Kyle.
It was about 25 kilometers to the southwest.
"Go take a break there. You should also advance a Stage before venturing out again. A Peak Adept traveling through the wild is risky, but a Late Adept doing the same thing is akin to suicide."
Kyle nodded. "Thanks again, Mandrake."
Mandrake nodded. "Don't die on me, okay? Maybe I will see you in the royal army in the future, but by then, I will be your superior!"
"I wouldn't have issues with that," Kyle said.
Mandrake hit Kyle's back again with laughter.
"See you, Kyle!"
Then, Mandrake ran towards the north to check out the Stygian Graphite for himself.
He couldn't just forward the hint without looking at it himself.
Kyle sighed.
"Go back into the tunnel and close the entrance," Theodor commanded. "You should learn that technique first before traveling further."
Kyle remained silent as he did as Theodor ordered.
Inside the tunnel, Kyle sat down.
Nobody said anything for a while.
"Who do you think knows more about the world, this Fighter or me?" Theodor asked calmly.
"You," Kyle answered.
"Then, if he knows about Affinities and how they work, do you think I wouldn't know?" Theodor asked.
"You know," Kyle answered.
"Do you think my ritual ruined your natural Affinities?" Theodor asked.
Kyle remained silent.
Based on what he had experienced and what Mandrake had said, the answer was clearly yes.
Yet, Theodor had been a Peak Master Artificer.
Would he make such a mistake?
"Probably not," Kyle said.
"Of course not, you imbecile!" Theodor shouted. "I could see your annoyance earlier. How did something like that even enter your mind?!"
"Do you honestly think I would ruin my inheritor's future by doing something as dumb as that?!"
Kyle didn't immediately answer.
"You said I have a Metal Affinity," Kyle said.
"Yes, because your new body has a Metal Affinity," Theodor answered. "But this is a different kind of Metal Affinity."
"Different kind?" Kyle asked.
"Yes, it is an additive Affinity," Theodor said. "I gave you Ether pathways that can transport and manipulate Metal Ether very easily."
"But I also left a general framework of Ether pathways in your body. The Metal Affinity does not make it harder for you to use any other kind of Affinities."
"Think about it. How am I supposed to know what kind of Affinity my inheritor would have? I can't! Because of that, I had to make every kind of Affinity fit while also giving them the means to produce golems and to refine ore!"
"Your body can use any kind of Affinity, and it also helps you with refining metals. What your body doesn't do is help you to create Metal Ether."
"It gives you the advantages that a Metal Affinity has outside of combat. Your body does not give you any help when it comes to creating Metal Ether. One is for smithing and mining. The other is for combat."
"I gave you the tools to become a smith and Golemancer, but I did not do that by inhibiting your combat potential!"
"And frankly, I'm insulted that you questioned me!"
Kyle sighed.
"Sorry," he said.
"The fact that you thought that I would make such a rookie mistake insults me!" Theodor shouted.
"Yes, yes, I already said I'm sorry, Boss," Kyle said with annoyance.
"To correct the mistakes of that random Fighter," Theodor said. "Your mind has a dual Affinity for Fire and Wind, but you do not have a Split Affinity. You have a regular dual Affinity, and you just so happen to have some of the advantages that a Metal Affinity has."
"You do not have any talent for creating Metal Ether, but your body allows you to make use of some of the strengths of Metal Affinities without hindering your other Affinities."
Theodor snorted again. "You really have a dwarf brain if you can't even see that."
Kyle sighed again.
Of course, Theodor's constant abuse was getting on his nerves, but sadly, Theodor was also right.
Because of that, Kyle didn't talk back.
"Now, go learn your first technique," Theodor said. "With your talent, you should master it within 30 minutes."
"Sure thing, Boss," Kyle said in exasperation.
Then, he took out his hammer and summoned some Wind Ether.
A whole bunch of stable whirlpools formed around it.
Now, he just needed to combine them and create the funnel.