Clang!

The Ethereum Handguard clattered onto the dusty floor of the storage closet. Daichi flexed his wrists, savouring the newfound freedom of movement as the shackles' oppressive weight lifted from his spirit.

"Master Sorah, you're a lifesaver!" he exclaimed as a wave of relief washing over him. He glanced at his mentor, who stood amidst a swirling mist of amber-white Aether Steam.

"Just a simple application of the ZenFlow kana I now wield, my impetuous student," Sorah replied with a faint smile. "The wind whispers many secrets to those who listen closely."

Daichi frowned suddenly as he remembered the air affinity brand that marked his forehead. "Speaking of secrets," he grumbled, tracing the ethereal cloud symbol with his fingers. "Those dim-witted Sand Devils branded me with the wrong element! I'm destined to be a Fire Titan Avatar Master, not some wind-weaving wimp!"

Sorah glanced at the brand briefly with an unreadable expression. He didn’t think they misbranded him, yet he responded dismissively, "A minor inconvenience, Daichi. We have more pressing matters at hand."

He began pacing back and forth across the cramped confines of the closet as he formulated a plan. "We need to find a way to escape this prison, and we need to do it quickly."

Daichi's impatience flared, his youthful energy chafing against the enforced confinement. He spied a mop leaning against the wall and snatched it up, twirling it around with a flourish.

Swish—

"Let's just bust out of here and kick some Sand Devil ass!" he declared, striking a heroic pose. "I'll show them what a real Fire Titan Avatar Master can do, even without my Titan!"

Sorah halted his pacing and fixed Daichi with a stern glare. "Do not be a fool, Daichi," he scolded. "Rushing headlong into battle without a plan is a recipe for disaster. We must be cunning, like the wind itself, if we are to succeed."

Daichi tossed the mop aside with a huff. "Fine," he grumbled. "But we can't just sit here in this dusty closet until our bones freeze over. What's the brilliant plan then, oh wise Master Sorah?"

Sorah's lips twitched in amusement. "Quiet, Daichi. I was starting to forget how annoying you can be."

He sat down cross-legged on the floor, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. The swirling amber-white aura of ZenFlow Kana enveloped him once more as he extended his awareness outwards, reaching beyond the confines of the closet and into the heart of the prison.

Daichi watched in fascination as the air around Sorah seemed to stir and shift, responding to his master's unspoken commands. Dust motes danced in the dim light, and a faint breeze brushed against his skin. 'What kind of martial arts is this geezer conjuring now?' he wondered.

Unbeknownst to Daichi, Sorah's Wind Sight swept through the prison, penetrating walls and barriers as if they were mere illusions. He saw the guards patrolling the corridors, riddled with boredom and cruelty. He saw the prisoners huddled in their cells, reflecting a spectrum of emotions - fear, despair, defiance, and a flicker of hope.

His awareness drifted towards Sector B, where the Aerithran prisoners were held. He could sense their presence, their connection to the wind, their longing for the open skies. A new technique, intricately linked to Wind Sight, began to unfold within his consciousness - Wind Speech.

Using the wind as a conduit, Sorah's voice resonated within the minds of the Aerithran prisoners. It was a whisper at first, a gentle breeze carrying his words into their hearts.

Elara, who was sitting on the floor of her cell, cradling Anya in her arms, heard it first. It was a faint murmur, a voice that seemed to emanate from the very air around her.

"Elara... Anya..."

She looked around in confusion, wondering if she was imagining things. "Sorah?" she whispered. "Is that you?"

"Yes, Elara," Sorah's voice resonated within her mind. "It is I. Do not be alarmed. I am using the wind to speak with you."

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He quickly explained the situation, how he had escaped his cell and was now planning a prison break. He needed their help to liberate the other Aerithran prisoners and escape this hellhole.

Elara's eyes widened in surprise and hope. "But... how? How can we possibly escape this fortress?"

"We will create a diversion," Sorah explained. "Something that will draw the guards' attention away from Sector B. And then, we will make our move."

He extended his Wind Speech to encompass the other Aerithran prisoners, sharing his plan and seeking their cooperation.

"Who are you?" a gruff voice demanded within the network. "How can we trust you?"

"I am Sorah Kyoshin," he replied, carrying the weight of authority and conviction. "A martial arts master from Cloud Hamlet. I am here to rescue my students and to offer you a chance at freedom."

A murmur of scepticism rippled through the mental link.

“We’ve been tricked before,” someone chimed in.

“This plan of yours… is it feasible?”

Elara's voice broke through the dissent. "I know this man," she said. "He is a good man, a man of honour. He risked his own life to protect my daughter and the other villagers from the heinous branding."

She paused and added, "And besides, what choice do we have? We will be transported at daybreak to god knows where, where we may never see the light of day again."

Her words resonated with the other prisoners, stirring a flicker of defiance within their hearts. They had nothing left to lose, only the chains of their imprisonment and the dim hope of freedom.

One by one, they agreed to participate in Sorah's plan. They would rise up against their oppressors, and they would reclaim their stolen liberty.

“But what of the specifics of your plan, Master Sorah?” a voice asked.

“I will create a diversion in Sector A that will draw the guards’ attention,” Sorah explained.

“And how do you intend to do that?” another voice inquired.

“I will cause an explosion,” Sorah answered.

A gasp of surprise and fear echoed through the mental link. “An explosion? Are you mad?”

Sorah calmly explained that he intended to sabotage the prison's power generators, creating a series of controlled explosions that would plunge the facility into darkness and chaos. This would deactivate the electronic steel gates at the outer border and create an opportunity for the Aerithran prisoners to escape their cells and make their way to the rendezvous point.

“But how are we supposed to escape our cells when we are bound by these Ethereum Handguards?” another voice asked.

“Do not worry about that,” Sorah reassured them. “I will send my… disciple to unlock your cells and your shackles. Once you are free, make your way to the training ground located behind Sector C. It will be our rallying point.”

“Wait, Mister Sorah.” Elara interjected. “About my brother Brokk and the other villagers… I think they were brought to Sector A. I know they are not Aerithrans but could you also—”

“Alright, that’s enough.” Sorah ended the transmission abruptly without addressing Elara’s question. His awareness immediately returned inside the storage cabinet.

“Cough! Cough!” Sorah was wheezing like a heavy smoker. He inhales a few times before standing up.

"Master Sorah, are you alright?" Daichi asked with concern across his youthful features as he observed his mentor.

Sorah was leaning against a stack of crates, heaving with exertion. Wisps of Aether Steam still leaked from his pores, but the glow of his ZenFlow Kana had dimmed considerably.

"I'm... I'm fine," Sorah replied, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Just a bit... drained."

He had pushed his limits, using Wind Sight and Wind Speech concurrently for an extended period. The strain on his body and spirit was immense, but he had accomplished what he set out to do. He had rallied the Aerithran prisoners and formulated a plan for their escape.

“That’s not what I meant.” Daichi noticed Sorah's hands were trembling slightly, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. The glyphs of the Sage Curse, still visible beneath his uniform, pulsed with an unsettling intensity.

"Those... those strange markings on your skin," Daichi pointed at the glowing glyphs. "They seem to be... spreading."

Sorah glanced down at his arms and chest, where the golden-black symbols were indeed encroaching further, their swirling patterns resembled a malevolent vine slowly consuming his body. A surge of pain shot through him, a burning sensation that radiated outwards from the amber seed crystal embedded within his chest.

He gritted his teeth, fighting back the urge to scream. The Sage Curse was taking its toll, its corrupting influence gnawing at his will and sanity. He had to act fast, before it consumed him entirely.

"Daichi," he said, strained with pain. "I need your help."

He reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, metallic object – the key to the Ethereum Handguards that had shackled Daichi earlier.

"This key... it will unlock the restraints of the other Aerithran prisoners," he explained. "You must go to Sector B and free them. Can you do that?"

Daichi stared at the key in surprise. "Me? But... I'm not proficient in using my powers yet. I can't use any fancy wind tricks or summon a Titan Avatar. I can’t even conjure Aether Steam.”

Sorah smiled faintly. "You don't need to be an adept Elementalist, Daichi. You just need to be brave and resourceful. Remember the training I've given you. Remember the principles of the martial arts."

He placed the key in Daichi's hand. "You are my student, Daichi. And I have faith in you."

Daichi's hand closed around the key, and a look of determination crossed his face. "I won't let you down, Master Sorah," he said resolutely. "I'll free the prisoners, and we'll escape this hellhole together."

Sorah nodded, a flicker of pride warming his heart. "Go now, Daichi. And may the winds of fate guide your steps."