He takes the cartridge and... yeah, it does look like Thancred's. He's no scholar like Y'shtola or Urianger, but he knows how to channel aether and knows full well how it feels rather than all of the aetherological facts. "I can only imagine. The aether of that stuff is explosive. I've seen some of the caves it's mined from..."

Not to mention where it's mined in Tural... the stink of ceruleum keeps him away from places like Hhusatahwi. "I can provide, if you have need. It should be fine enough - I can adjust the elemental composition if that would be helpful."

... "Hells, I sound like one of the Archons. I never let Estinien hear me sound scholarly, he'd tease me until we both die." He offers a slight smile and hands back the cartridge.