Sorah urged Woodworm onward, the loyal beast lumbering diligently across the mist-shrouded mountain paths. The wind whipped at Sorah's face, carrying the faint scent of burnt wood and a deeper, more acrid tang that spoke of scorched earth and metal. The remnants of the invasion lingered heavy in the air.

"Master Sorah," the Rice Guru's voice crackled beside him, "Your concern for your students is admirable, but I sense a darkness brewing within you. This relentless focus on vengeance... it risks consuming you whole."

Sorah's grip tightened on the Dawn Sky Crusher. "Vengeance? No, Rice Guru, you misunderstand. This is not about vengeance, but about protecting those entrusted to my care. I failed them once; I will not do so again."

The Rice Guru peered at Sorah's back, where the Sage Curse glyphs pulsed and shifted with an unsettling life of their own. "Hmm, perhaps. But the power you wield is potent and volatile. It requires balance, lest it consume you as it has consumed others before."

Sorah fell silent, contemplating the Rice Guru's words. For the few hours of being conscious of possessing this new power, he knew the dangers of the Sage Curse, yet he felt a strange sense of control, a connection to the power that seemed to resonate with his very being. Perhaps it was the sheer force of his will to rescue his students that allowed him to assimilate with the curse without succumbing to its corrupting influence as yet.

As they continued their journey, the landscape grew increasingly rugged, the air thinner. Woodworm began to wheeze and struggle, its stubby legs churning against the increasingly steep incline.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Sorah yelped and collapsed from Woodworm's back, clutching his chest. “It burns!”

The Sage Curse glyphs on his skin flared with an intense golden light, swirling and pulsing like a vortex. A potent wave of energy erupted from his body, manifesting as a thick, shimmering mist that quickly enveloped him and Woodworm.

"Aether Steam!" the Rice Guru exclaimed, leaping back in surprise. "But... how is this possible? You haven't completed the trials! Moreover, you’re not an Elementalist."

The Rice Guru watched in awe as the Aether Steam swirled around Sorah, its tendrils reaching out and caressing the Dawn Sky Crusher. The staff pulsed with a vibrant light, resonating with the unleashed energy.

Concern etched across the Rice Guru's face as he cautiously approached Sorah, who lay unconscious amidst the swirling mist. The potent amount of Aether Steam oozing from his body was unprecedented for someone who hadn't undergone the complete Ascension Gauntlet and had no prior elemental affinity. Could it be that Sorah's sheer willpower to rescue his children had somehow been recognized by the ancient forces governing the Sage Curse?

With a flick of his wrist, the Rice Guru summoned a glowing scroll and began writing intricate Cloud Script characters. He then thrust the scroll into the air, where it burst into a shimmering barrier, encasing Sorah and the spilling Aether Steam within a protective dome.

The Rice Guru sighed in relief, glancing around at the deserted landscape. Thankfully, the recent invasion had driven most wildlife away, leaving them alone with their predicament.

He pondered the situation. Sorah's skipping of the Heart and Spirit trials was clearly causing the Sage Curse to lash out in its infancy stages of merging. The only solution, before they could proceed on their rescue mission, was to detour elsewhere for Sorah to learn the first Dance of the Titan Avatars – the Zephyrswept Waltz, located at the Sanctuary of the Windswept Mesa in the Aerithra Kingdom.

Kneeling beside Sorah, the Rice Guru gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Master Sorah, wake up," he said softly.

Sorah's eyes fluttered open, his face contorted in pain. "The... children..." he mumbled.

"They will be fine, Master Sorah," the Rice Guru reassured him. "But before we can rescue them, we must make a detour. You need to learn the Zephyrswept Waltz, the first of the Five Legendary Dances of the Titan Avatars. It will help you control the Sage Curse and prevent it from consuming you."

Sorah struggled to sit up, his voice raspy with pain. "But... my students... they need me now!"

"And you will be there for them, Master Sorah," the Rice Guru said firmly. "But if you succumb to the curse, you will be of no use to anyone. We must go to the Sanctuary of the Windswept Mesa."

Sorah wanted to argue, but the pain coursing through his body and the undeniable wisdom in the Rice Guru's words forced him to concede. He nodded weakly.

“Now, how do we… transport… Though our destination isn’t that far, it is quite away from here and the sooner we get you there the better…” The Rice Guru pondered how they would transport Sorah to the Sanctuary.

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“Kyu! Kyu!” Suddenly, Woodworm stirred beside them, its segmented body shifting and morphing. In a flash of light, the rotund beast transformed into the elegant Cloud Butterfly, Breeze Plume. It flapped its wings gently, beckoning them forward.

"Ah, of course!" the Rice Guru exclaimed, hopping onto Breeze Plume's back. "Your loyal steed shall carry us to our destination, I almost forgot this fat worm could soar the skies."

“Kyuuu!” Breeze Plume felt insulted by Rice Guru’s remarks, which prompted it to rattle slightly.

“Oh, sorry, my dear winged friend!” He apologized while holding steady, not to fall off.

After their little interaction ended, Sorah allowed himself to be partially cocooned in silken threads woven by Breeze Plume for transport, while wincing at the pain that flared with every movement. But he knew this detour was necessary. He had to master the Zephyrswept Waltz dance that Rice Guru mentioned, not only to save himself from the Sage Curse but also to ensure he could protect his students and his homeland.

Whoosh!

With a powerful beat of its wings, Breeze Plume took flight, carrying Sorah and the Rice Guru towards the Sanctuary of the Windswept Mesa far away to a secluded edge in the Aerithra Kingdom. The journey would be much quicker by flight and arduous, not for Rice Guru and Breez Plume, but for Sorah and he was determined to succeed.

He had to, there was no other option. The fate of his students, and perhaps the entire Aerithra Kingdom, rested on his decrepit and aching, cursed shoulders.

***

Breeze Plume soared through the sky, its massive wings beating rhythmically as it carried Sorah and the Rice Guru towards Isle Stratus. Below them, the landscape unfolded in a tapestry of lush greenery and vibrant life. Unlike Cloud Hamlet, Isle Stratus had been spared the ravages of the invasion. Its sprawling fields of exotic plants and medicinal herbs remained untouched, a testament to the island's natural resilience and the protective efforts of its inhabitants.

As they flew, the Rice Guru observed the survivors being ferried to safety from Cloud Hamlet. The island had borne the brunt of the attack, and its once vibrant community was now scattered and broken.

"This invasion... it was not merely about conquest," thought the Rice Guru as his leafy body parts fluttered in the wind. "The Terravolt and Ignis Kingdoms covet our Aether Steam Nexus. They seek to harness its power for their own nefarious purposes. Could be the greedy knuckleheads have almost completely excavated their crystal deposits."

His speculation fell on deaf ears. Sorah was lost in a haze of pain, his body struggling to contain the volatile Sage Curse energy. Breeze Plume, focused on their destination, paid no heed to the Rice Guru's musings.

Ahead, the dense foliage of Isle Stratus rose to meet them. The Rice Guru pointed towards a particularly thick patch of trees. "There, Master Sorah. The Sanctuary of the Windswept Mesa lies hidden within that grove."

Breeze Plume descended gracefully, its wings brushing against the leaves as it touched down softly on the mossy ground, careful not damage Sorah. The air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers and damp earth, coupled with the invasive rays of dappled sunlight.

"Follow me," the Rice Guru said, hopping off Breeze Plume's back. "The entrance to the Sanctuary is well hidden."

Sorah, fighting against the pain that wracked his body, followed the Rice Guru through the dense undergrowth. "How do you know about this place, Rice Guru? And the secret dances... did you learn of them from my father?"

The Rice Guru chuckled. "Master Aoi was a wise and powerful man, but even he did not possess all the answers. My knowledge comes from a different source, one that I cannot reveal at this time."

They arrived at a large, moss-covered stone. At first glance, it appeared unremarkable, but as they drew closer, Sorah noticed faint glyphs etched into its surface.

“The entrance is this rock…?” Sorah glanced at Rice Guru puzzled.

“Come closer…” The Rice Guru traced the glyphs with his gnarled fingers while muttering an incantation under his breath. Suddenly, the stone flared with a brilliant light that shot directly into Sorah's forehead. He gasped, feeling a surge of energy coursing through his body. Above his head, a spectral lotus flower unfolded, its petals shimmering with ethereal light.

"The Neural Dojo awakens," the Rice Guru said, utterly filled with awe. "This is where you will learn the Zephyrswept Waltz."

“Neural Dojo?” Sorah was at lost for words as the Sage Curse began flaring fiercer as if in resistance to the imminent events.

Whoosh!

Sorah felt his surroundings begin to blur and shift. The forest faded away, replaced by a vast, open space filled with swirling leaves and tendrils of wind. He realized he was no longer in the physical world but in a different space altogether – his own Neural Dojo. According to Rice Guru, it was a training ground within his consciousness.

“Kyuuu?” Breeze Plume, startled, watched as Sorah and the Rice Guru vanished before its eyes. It chirped in confusion, unsure of what had just transpired.

Inside the Neural Dojo, the Rice Guru stood beside Sorah, his physical body somehow transported into this mental realm. "I have my tricks, Master Sorah," he said with a wink.

He led Sorah towards a swirling vortex of leaves. "The Zephyrswept Waltz is a dance of the air affinity," the Rice Guru explained. "It allows the user to harness the power of the wind and control the flow of Aether Steam within their body. Aether Steam in turn, will bring forth more potential of the Sage Curse but also an additional bonus…" He paused.

"Are the other four dances located in their respective elemental kingdoms?" Sorah asked, curiosity battling against the pain that still wracked his body.

"Indeed," the Rice Guru confirmed. "Each dance is tied to a specific element and can only be learned in its corresponding kingdom."

“In that case, the Aether dance will be most elusive,” said Sorah, remembering that for the last century, no one has been able to locate the actual whereabouts of the Ancient Celestria (Aether) Kingdom.

“Come along Master Sorah,” urged the venerable Rice Guru.

As they approached the swirling leaves, they began to coalesce and take shape. Soon, a majestic being stood before them, its form composed of swirling wind and ethereal light.

"I am Sylphyr," the being said with a sonorous tone that shook the entirety of the Neural Dojo. "Master of the Zephyrswept Waltz. Are you ready to learn?"

Rumble!

‘Wow, such vocal force…’ Sorah stared in awe at the majestic being, feeling a sense of wonder and trepidation. According to the Rice Guru, he knew that mastering this dance was crucial, but he couldn't help but wonder what other mysteries lay hidden within the Five Legendary Dances of the Titan Avatars.

With a deep breath, Sorah nodded. "I am ready."