“Like this?” Kyle asked, holding a stone to the walls of the big hole.
“Yes,” Theodor answered. “Now, push it into the wall with your Liquifier.”
A plate came out of Kyle’s hammer, and he pushed the plate into the stone.
“Nothing’s happening,” Kyle said.
“Foolish inheritor, you have to use your Soul,” Theodor said.
Kyle infused his hammer with Ether.
A moment later, the hammer pushed forward, and the stone became malleable.
Eventually, the stone vanished.
It was like it had been pushed into the wall.
’Weird!’ Kyle thought as he looked at it.
“Combining the same materials is easy. As long as you use the debris of the mine, you can strengthen the walls by pushing the Ether of the debris into the walls. That increases the durability of the walls. That’s also why the walls in my trial were so durable,” Theodor explained.
“Why did you tell me to carry the debris out if we are going to use it for this?” Kyle asked, trying not to sound passive-aggressive.
“Because you are only going to use 10% of the debris for this. The other 90% have to be dealt with in the traditional way,” Theodor answered.
For the next couple of hours, Kyle liquified stones to harden the walls of the hole.
By now, it had become dark outside, and it was time to return home.
Otherwise, Samson would become worried.
“I didn’t even get a piece of ore,” Kyle grumbled.
“Foolish inheritor, if mining were that easy, everyone would be a miner.”
“Mining takes a lot of work, and if you don’t know what you are doing, it is also dangerous.”
“If the tunnel collapses while you are inside, your life would be forfeit,” Theodor explained.
Kyle just sighed.
It was frustrating that he hadn’t made any tangible progress.
Eventually, Kyle jumped out of the hole and made his way back.
On his way back, he searched for a Spitter since he was quite hungry, but he didn’t find any of them.
In the end, Kyle had to return home hungry.
Samson wanted to ask Kyle where he had been, but his talk with Nervon from a couple of weeks ago made him decide against that.
Kyle was an adult.
Whatever he did during his off days was up to him.
When Kyle was in his own room again, he sat down in the middle of it.
“Can you tell me more about creating functional mines?” Kyle asked Theodor.
“You are willing to learn?” Theodor asked in surprise.
“Yes,” Kyle answered. “I want to make sure that nothing goes wrong again.”
“Surprising, but not an unwelcome surprise,” Theodor said. “If you desire knowledge, I am willing to provide it.”
“Thank you,” Kyle said.
For the next couple of hours, Theodor gave Kyle a detailed overview of his mining weapon.
If Kyle wanted to become a proper miner, he needed to know what his tools could do.
Eventually, Kyle went to sleep.
“Wake up!”
“Huh?” Kyle uttered as he groggily opened his eyes. “How late is it?”
“Early. Very early,” Theodor said.
“How long did I sleep?” Kyle asked, looking out at the dark sky.
“Four hours,” Theodor answered.
“Only four hours?” Kyle asked in shock.
“You don’t need more than four hours to survive!” Theodor said with annoyance. “You are no longer a regular mortal! The stronger you get, the less sleep you need!”
Kyle’s eyes wanted to close again.
“Wake up and get to work!” Theodor shouted.
“Get to work on what?” Kyle asked in annoyance.
“Training!” Theodor answered.
“Nervon’s training isn’t due for another two hours,” Kyle answered.
“That is Nervon’s training. This is your training!”
“My training?” Kyle asked.
“Yes, you need to get more familiar with your body! You need to train your Soul! You need to learn how to manipulate your Center!”
Kyle took a deep breath.
That sounded like a lot of work.
He wasn’t a fan of work.
“Get your ass up! It’s time to catch breakfast!” Theodor shouted.
Kyle groaned and stood up.
Under Theodor’s orders, he left the town and entered the wilderness.
“The wilderness is much more dangerous during the dark hours. Hunting during the late night will be a good opportunity to learn!”
Kyle was essentially following orders like a robot since he was still insanely tired.
Theodor told him exactly where to go, and after a while, Kyle arrived in front of a small lake.
It was barely 50 meters wide.
“Put your hand in the lake,” Theodor ordered.
“Sure thing, Boss,” Kyle answered like a robot.
He held his hand in the lake as ordered.
Several seconds passed.
Suddenly, Kyle’s eyes shot open, and he pulled his hand out of the lake.
There had been a sudden sting of pain in his arm.
As he looked at his arm, he saw a big fish hanging from his arm.
Its teeth had halfway buried themselves in his arm.
“There’s your food!” Theodor said. “Finally awake now?!”
“What the fuck, dude?!” Kyle asked.
“I’m not your dude but your master!” Theodor shouted. “Now, eat!”
Kyle was annoyed at the sudden wake-up call, but he ate the fish regardless.
It was pretty good, and it had a good amount of Ether.
“Done?” Theodor asked with a strict voice.
“Yes,” Kyle grumbled.
“Good!”
“Jump into the lake!”
Kyle’s eyes widened.
“Why?!” he asked.
“Do it! I will explain after!” Theodor shouted.
Kyle looked at the lake apprehensively.
He had no idea what was inside, and one of the fish had just tried to eat him!
“Are you sure?” Kyle asked.
“Your life is more important to me than it is to yourself!” Theodor shouted. “You are the only shot I have at fulfilling my dying wish!”
“Do what I’m telling you to do!”
Kyle took a deep breath as his annoyance grew again.
“Fine!”
Then, he jumped into the lake.
“Swim to the other side as fast as you can!” Theodor said.
Kyle was kicking the water below him since his hammer was so insanely heavy.
“I said swim, not kick!” Theodor shouted.
“How am I supposed to swim with this hammer?!” Kyle shouted.
“Use your Soul, you imbecile! Your Soul manipulates your surroundings! Now, stop kicking the lake, or you will die!”
Kyle’s eyes widened.