Kyle led the middle-aged man to his pile of Earth Stone, which had grown pretty big by now.
The man looked at it with furrowed brows.
"I would say that’s about three Ether Pebbles," he said. "You said you also have three Ether Pebbles with you, right?"
The man fell into thought for a couple of seconds.
"We will be back in about three days," the middle-aged man said. "If you can double the size of the pile by then, we will escort you to Fire Coast. How does that sound?"
Kyle looked at his pile. "It’s a lot of digging, but it should be possible."
"Then, we have a deal," the man said with a smile, extending his hand.
"Oh, that reminds me," he added. "I haven’t introduced myself yet."
"I’m Monty Lornstein, and I lead the Lornstein Caravan. We travel through all the Cradles north of the Big Bazaar to offer our wares."
Kyle shook Monty’s hand. "Name’s Kyle Freeman and my job is to go south."
Monty chuckled politely. "Nice to meet you, Kyle."
"I must excuse myself. We have already delayed our journey to Forest Haven, and we must get going. Do your best for the next couple of days. I’m looking forward to our little deal."
Kyle nodded. "I won’t disappoint."
The two of them said their goodbyes, and Kyle followed them outside.
When he came out, his eyes widened.
There was a huge beast!
It had four legs and was covered in leathery skin, and it was almost 20 meters long!
On top of the beast was a luxurious house made of wood and cloth.
Additionally, the beast pulled a big cart with crates behind it.
Kyle could also see five people standing in front of the beast.
’Sure enough, this looks like a caravan,’ Kyle thought.
Surprisingly, the beast didn’t feel dangerous to Kyle.
It was definitely strong, but it was probably unused to combat.
’It’s like a cow... or a camel. Will probably run away as soon as anything dangerous approaches,’ Kyle thought.
Monty and Spencer jumped onto the beast, and the others followed.
"Until we meet again, Kyle," Monty shouted.
Then, one of the people whistled.
A moment later, the big beast started to walk forward, and it was not slow.
’That’s like 30 miles per hour,’ Kyle thought as he watched the beast approaching the Cradle where Kyle had come from.
"See? Nothing bad happened," Kyle said.
"Humans are always bad news," Theodor answered. "You’ve been lucky this time, but they know where you are now. You should take the risk and run through the open field. The next time they appear, they will kill you."
"Eeehh, why?" Kyle asked. "If they wanted to kill me, they would’ve done it right away."
"They want to milk you for all you’re worth, foolish inheritor!" Theodor shouted.
"Dude, did you see that big beast?" Kyle asked. "I don’t think they care about three or four Ether Pebbles."
"You will not learn until you feel the pain of your mistakes," Theodor said. "Nothing I say will convince you. Go ahead! Run to your doom!"
Kyle rolled his eyes.
’Sometimes, I forget that Theodor is a paranoid schizo. God, can this guy just calm down for one moment?’
"Anyway, back to work, boys!" Kyle shouted as he ran back into his mine.
Just when he was ready to resume, he paused.
"Right," Kyle said. "There was something in front of us, right?"
"The Ether source. Are you going to talk to that thing as well?" Theodor asked with a snort.
"Maybe I should," Kyle said.
"You will do no such thing!" Theodor shouted.
"Dude, it was a joke," Kyle answered with a roll of his eyes.
"I do not appreciate your humor!"
"Stop trying to be funny! You might be a child mentally, but not physically!"
Without saying anything, Kyle hit the wall with full force.
"What are you doing?!" Theodor shouted.
"Dude, we said that we are going to continue," Kyle said. "I am doing what you told me to do."
"Bro, I’m hammering through hard-ass stone. How am I supposed to be quiet?"
"I am not your brother, foolish inheritor!"
"It’s a phrase! It just means dude, guy, or whatever."
"I am also not your dude, guy, or whatever. I am your mas- teacher!"
"You just wanted to say master, right?" Kyle asked.
"But you wanted to say master."
"Slip of the tongue."
"Oh, is that what you see me as? A servant?"
"You’re my inheritor."
"Is it normal for masters to constantly complain and nag to their inheritors?" Kyle asked.
"I don’t nag!" Theodor shouted.
"You do. Oh, foolish inheritor, you are stupid! You can’t learn anything! Don’t do that! Run away! Hide from all humans! All humans are bad! Talk more gracefully! You killed us! You’re lucky!"
"These are valid criticisms," Theodor said.
"How is constantly calling me foolish a valid criticism?"
Kyle hit the wall again.
"I’m just stating facts! That’s not complaining!"
Three Ether Pebbles fell to the ground, and Kyle pocketed them.
"Oh no, the stupid dwarf is hitting the wall!" Kyle shouted.
More Ether Pebbles fell out of the wall.
"Be quieter!" Theodor shouted.
"Says the guy shouting my ears off!" Kyle answered with annoyance.
"Only you can hear me! Stop being so loud!" Theodor shouted.
"You stop being loud!" Kyle shouted.
"You’re going to get us killed, you imbecile!" Theodor shouted.
"How am I supposed to know that? I’m an imbecile! I don’t know things!"
"This is why you’re an imbecile! You keep risking your life because you’re spiteful and petty!"
"Like you?" Kyle asked.
"Dude, you proclaimed your grand revenge to the entire Kingdom because your buddy didn’t want to bankroll your advancement. That is petty as fuck!"
"Do not disrespect your master, mortal!"
"If you’re that amazing, why didn’t you take some Ether mines from the Winterfire Kingdom? I bet your buddy would’ve given those to you if you conquered them. But noooo, your buddy has to bankroll your shit, and you don’t want to put any effort in."
"Mortal, you do not know what you’re-"
"Shut up for a second," Kyle said, much quieter than before.
"What?" Theodor asked, looking forward.
"Is that a face?" Kyle asked.