The three riding Moksha proceeded to the islands without much issue. Peridot is assigned to be the navigator of the trip as she owns a copy of the world map. After travelling for about an hour, the group encountered something that should not be there.
The path towards the islands is blocked by a wide stretch of clouds. Kabrakan asked Peridot if Moksha can continue, and she assured that they can. Moksha pierced the clouds and the three's visibility became reduced. All they can see is mist like surroundings and their faces becoming wet.
They traversed the clouds for one whole hour, but they came out in another area that is not inside of the cloud formation. Moksha tried once again but the same result happened as they arrived outside the cloud formation after one hour of being inside of it.
"We are not getting anywhere." Kabrakan stated and the two agreed.
"Let me try traversing the clouds to see if it is the same." Peridot stated as she suddenly transformed to a snake like dragon. She proceeded to pierce the cloud formation again, but she returned outside of it again after an hour.
Peridot came back extremely exhausted as she consumed almost all of her stamina from retaining her dragon form. She caught her breath for a few seconds before elaborating the things that she noticed.
"I only maintained a straight travel direction, but I ended up back to this position. The clouds are some sort of array that is more powerful than the one set up at Mt. Thunder. If only we had Adrian here, then he might have decoded the array inside of the cloud formation.
It is a powerful array that could even fool a Ryujin's sense of direction. Even the elements are being fooled when I commanded the wind to guide me to the location of the islands. It also stretches far and wide, but we always return to the area near where we enter." Peridot stated as she more or less guessed the reason why they cannot arrive at the islands.
"What if the old hermit is correct?" Kabrakan suddenly interjected.
"You cannot be serious?" Levin Cloud reacted as the clouds also stretched to the surface of the water.
"The clouds also touch the water which means we will still arrive back to this area even if we go by boat. The formation changes the perception of the people inside. It might look like we are going straight but we are actually just going back to the location where we entered." Peridot stated.
"What if the entrance is not by flight or by boat but by diving underwater?" Kabrakan stated.
The two can only agree to that assumption but they are not completely trusting the information of the old hermit. Peridot transformed once again to her dragon form and dove to the ocean. She surfaced after five minutes of surveying underwater.
"The point where the cloud touches the water is also blocked by a reef. The reef also stretches far and wide to the point that there are no passages. Maybe one cannot go to those islands unless they have an item or something." Peridot stated as she reverted back to a humanoid form.
"We should return and ask the old hermit." Kabrakan announced to which the two agreed since he is the leader of the group since it is his mission.
The group returned back to the stony shore where they saw the old hermit meditating. The old hermit did not move from his position from what they could surmise. Kabrakan sat in front of the old hermit until the latter opened its eyes.
"It seems that your means was fruitless. Just like I told you, you cannot reach it by flight. It seems that your luck is great since you three did not get swallowed by the Maelstrom." The old hermit stated.
"Can you please tell us the way to go to the islands that are located south of here?" Kabrakan asked as he bowed with great respect.
The old hermit saw this and raised his eyebrows as a proud member of the beastman race is actually lowering his head towards him. He found it amusing yet felt the great humility that this beastman has. Beastmen are prideful beings that do not bow down to anyone even if they are at death's door.
"Seeing that you are bowing to me despite me being a useless old man, it seems that your need to go to the hidden islands are greater than your pride. I just hope that others of your race are like you because people often lose themselves when they are above others." The old hermit stated as he suddenly summoned a gourd from nowhere.
The old hermit handed the gourd to Kabrakan. It was just an ordinary gourd made of clay with a red string attached to it. There are no special marks or writings in the gourd that makes it stand out from te other gourds that are being sold in the eastern continent.
"When you are in front of the cloud formation, dive towards the sea and let the gourd decide your fate. If it deems all of you worthy, then you will safely arrive at the hidden islands." The old hermit stated as he went back to his meditation.
"Thank you very much for your grace." Kabrakan stated as he thanked the old hermit for the gift. The other two thanked the old hermit as well but he did not bother sending the three off.
When the three were no longer near the old hermit, his body started to fade as if he is becoming wind. A few moments later, only the howl of the wind could be heard from the rock peaks at the shore. The old hermit vanished without a trace.
Kabrakan did not know that he managed to complete one of the hidden quests to find a way to the hidden islands. His humility is what convinced the old hermit to give them a way inside.
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