The Cloud Portal at Cirrus Point stood as a silent sentinel, its once vibrant Cloud Stones now dull and lifeless. Brokk, Plutak, Elara, Anya, Bishane, Lukio, Boolan, and a handful of other Aerithrans huddled around the platform, staring on the spot where the swirling vortex of light had just been a moment ago.

“Mommy… where did the portal go?” Anya tugged at her mother's sleeve with confusion and a hint of fear.

Elara knelt down and embraced her daughter tightly. "It's alright, sweetheart," she whispered, though her own heart was heavy with worry. "The portal... it's just resting for now. It will open again soon."

But even as she spoke, Elara felt that something was wrong. The portal's sudden deactivation, the lack of any response from the Rice Guru... it all pointed towards a disaster.

"Do you think they're alright?" she asked, turning to Brokk as she trembled with concern. "Mister Sorah, the Rice Guru... and Daichi?"

Brokk's brow furrowed as he stared at the deactivated portal. He admitted gruffly , "I... I don't know, Elara. That explosion... it was massive. And those Titan Avatars... they were powerful beyond anything I've ever encountered."

Plutak, who had been pacing back and forth restlessly, stopped and placed a comforting hand on Elara's shoulder and said reassuringly, "They're strong, Elara. They've faced worse odds before and survived. They'll make it through this."

But even as he spoke, Plutak couldn't shake the feeling of dread that gnawed at his insides. He had witnessed the power of the Eden Ryuu Titan Avatar, the devastating force that had nearly crushed them all. And now, with the portal gone, the Rice Guru and the others were trapped, stranded in a hostile land with no way to return home.

The other Aerithrans huddled around in small groups, talking to one another as they expressed their worries.

"Do you think the Rice Guru will be able to reactivate the portal?" one of them asked.

"I don't know," another replied. "The Cloud Stones must have been damaged. And without the stones, the portal won't function."

Bishane stepped forward and addressed the group with a calmness that belied the turmoil he felt within. "We must have faith. The Rice Guru is a master of Boqumu, a scholar of the Cloud Script. He will find a way to repair the portal."

Lukio, who had been observing the portal with a keen eye, nodded in agreement. "He's resourceful, that's for sure. And he has that cute little Woodworm... or rather, Breeze Plume, by his side. They'll make it through this."

But even as they spoke words of reassurance, the minutes ticked by, and the portal remained inactive.

"It's... it's not working," a young Aerithran woman whispered. “They are trapped back there in the temple.”

A wave of hopelessness washed over the group, threatening to extinguish the flicker of hope that had sustained them through their ordeal. They had escaped the clutches of Warden Poahf thanks to Sorah but he was also left behind.

Bishane spoke again with a quiet resolve, "We must move on. We cannot remain here. We must find a place where we can wash up and think clearly."

The others agreed with Bishane. They turned away from the inactive portal and began walking down the sloping path that led away from Cirrus Point.

…

As they journeyed through the rugged landscape of the Floating Leaf, the Aerithrans and Terravoltians alike couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of their surroundings. Towering mountains, shrouded in mist, pierced the sky. Sparkling waterfalls cascaded down rocky cliffs, crashing into crystal-clear pools below. Lush forests, teeming with life, stretched out as far as the eye could see.

"This place... it's breathtaking," Elara murmured while gazing at the scenery with a sense of awe and wonder. “It has been a while.”

"I never imagined such beauty existed. It's like a dream," Anya added, her eyes wide with wonder.

Brokk, who had always considered the Aerithra Kingdom to be a land of weakness and complacency, couldn't help but be impressed by the resilience and the spirit of its people. Despite the recent invasion, despite the devastation that had been inflicted upon Cloud Hamlet, the Aerithrans had come together and begun rebuilding their homes and their lives.

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"Wow, this place is much better looking than I thought," Brokk remarked, scratching his beard thoughtfully. "I thought the invasion from the Terravolt and Ignis Kingdoms would have caused more damage."

Bishane, who had been walking beside Brokk, overheard his comment and responded, "It did cause damage, my friend. Great damage. But the Aerithrans are a resilient people. We work together, we help each other, and we never give up hope."

He gestured towards a group of villagers who were busy repairing a damaged building. "We may not have the raw power of the Terravolt or the Ignis, but we have the strength of our community. And that is something that no army, no Titan Avatar, can ever truly conquer."

Lukio, who had been walking behind them, chimed in, "Besides, the Aerithrans are masters of reconstruction. We have to be, given the nature of our floating islands. Storms, tremors, and other natural disasters can cause significant damage, so we've learned to rebuild quickly and efficiently."

She added with a wink, "And let's not forget the power of the wind. A well-placed gust can lift heavy objects, clear away debris, and even help to shape the landscape."

As they continued to walk, the group sensed that they were being watched. The recent invasion had heightened their sense of vigilance, and they were constantly scanning the skies and the surrounding hills for any sign of danger.

Suddenly, Anya tugged at her mother's sleeve and pointed towards the sky. "Mama, look! What's that?"

Elara followed her daughter's gaze and saw a dark shape soaring through the air towards them. It was a large, winged creature that was silhouetted against the backdrop of the setting sun.

"It's... it's a dragon!" Brokk exclaimed fearfully.

"But... but those are Terravolt creatures," Anya added.

Brokk and Plutak stepped forward, their bodies tensing as they prepared for a fight. They had faced Sand Krayt Dragons before, and they knew the dangers of those beasts.

“Don’t worry folks, that’s a Cloud Dragon.” Bishane stepped forward and stared at the approaching figure with a keen eye. "It's one of ours."

He raised his hand in greeting, and the dragon responded with a graceful dip of its wings.

"It's a Sky Patrol unit. They're our protectors, our guardians against those who would seek to harm us." Bishane explained as the dragon prepared to land.

Whoosh!

With a grace that belied its size, the majestic Cloud Dragon landed softly in the clearing. Its wings folded gracefully as it settled on the mossy ground. Its scales glowed like pearls in the fading sunlight, and its metallic horns were releasing subtle sparks.

Thud!

A figure, clad in silver battle armour and a flowing blue cape, dismounted from the dragon's back. His helmet was adorned with a stylized image of a cloud with a swirling wind current within it - the insignia of the Aerithra Kingdom's Sky Patrol.

"Greetings, travellers," the figure addressed them. "I am Captain Oriole of the Sky Patrol Guard. We were on patrol when we detected a strange energy signature emanating from Cirrus Point, and we came to investigate."

He paused and surveyed the group, his gaze lingering on their dishevelled appearances and the brands that marked their foreheads. "You seem to have been through... quite an ordeal," he remarked with a tone laced with concern.

Stepping forward, Bishane cupped his fist and bowed respectfully to Captain Oriole. "Indeed, Captain. Your observations are spot on. We are survivors of the recent invasion of Cloud Hamlet, and we have just escaped from the clutches of the Terravolt Kingdom."

He briefly recounted their tale, describing the attack on Cloud Hamlet, their capture and imprisonment at Nathor Prison Camp, their escape with the help of Sorah and the Rice Guru, and the destruction of the Rendil Temple.

As he spoke, Captain Oriole listened intently. His expression grew increasingly grave, especially when Bishane mentioned the name "Sorah," a flicker of recognition crossed his eyes.

"Sorah Kyoshin? The martial arts master?" he inquired.

Bishane nodded. "The same. He is the one who led our escape from the prison camp. He is the one who bought us time to activate the Cloud Portal and return to the Aerithra Kingdom."

Captain Oriole's gaze shifted to Brokk, Plutak, who were standing behind the group. He noticed the marks on their heads and those two looked different. "And these... individuals?" he asked, his tone neutral.

Bishane explained, "They are... friends. They assisted us in our escape. They are not our enemies."

He was careful with his wording, knowing that tensions between the Aerithra and Terravolt Kingdoms were at an all-time high. He didn't want Captain Oriole to view Brokk and Plutak as potential threats.

To Bishane's surprise, Captain Oriole remained calm. He nodded in understanding and said, "I see. Then you are all welcome here, in the Aerithra Kingdom. You have our protection."

He paused and added, "But... there is one matter that concerns me." He gestured towards the brands on their foreheads. "These... markings... they are unlike anything I have ever seen before. What are they?"

Bishane hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. But he knew that honesty was the best policy. He took a deep breath and explained the branding regime that the Terravolt and Ignis Kingdoms had implemented, the forced identification of elemental affinities, and the marking of those with air affinity.

Captain Oriole listened intently. When Bishane finished speaking, the Captain let out a low whistle.

"This is... disturbing," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "The Terravolt and Ignis have gone too far this time. This branding... it is an act of barbarity, a violation of the fundamental rights of individuals."

He paused and added, "We must bring this matter to the attention of the Zephyr Council. This is something that requires the attention of our kingdom's leaders."

He turned to the group and said, "Come everyone. I will escort you to the Celestial Aerie. The Sky Wardens must hear your story.”