Something was gradually emerging from the uniform grey-white backdrop, like a long tunnel approaching its end, with a scene at the exit suddenly entering into view.
Sherry agilely climbed up the mast, her eyes wide with excitement as she peered into the distance, shouting joyfully towards the deck, "There's something ahead! It's not an illusion; it looks like something solid!"
The scene that appeared at the end of the "course" started to clarify. The surrounding uniform grey-white background began to dissolve as quickly as morning mist under the sunlight. Duncan was the first to distinguish the glimmering water light—then came the mist floating on that water surface and many shadows, big and small, farther away.
Those shadows, large and small, floated upon the water, gradually forming a clear chain of islands.
It was the mysterious "archipelago" that Captain Karan had mentioned in her log!
