Chapter 237 — The Order

Chapter 237: Chapter 237 — The Order

Chapter 237 — The Order

Victor slowly opened his eyes.

For several seconds, he had absolutely no idea where he was.

He was lying on a couch in a completely white room. White walls. White ceiling. White floor. There were no windows and almost nothing inside besides the couch beneath him.

Victor slowly pushed himself upright.

At the other end of the couch, the Space Witch sat cross-legged, silently cultivating.

Then everything came rushing back.

Elder Benton.

The feather.

Their conversation about Lyra and the Evil God Organization.

And finally, Benton knocking him unconscious before bringing him here.

Victor rubbed his forehead.

He still had no idea where here was.

That had apparently been the entire point.

Wherever Benton had brought him, Victor could only hope the people here had enough power to help him save Lyra and deal with the Evil God base he’d discovered in Region F.

The Space Witch stirred.

Her eyes opened behind the mask and settled on him.

Victor gave her a small smile.

He was almost certain he knew exactly who was behind that mask.

Grace.

But this wasn’t the time to bring it up. There were too many important things happening for Victor to joke around or reveal that he’d figured out her identity.

Eventually, though, he’d let her know.

The Space Witch remained silent.

A moment later, a faint pulse of Spiritual Energy spread from her body.

Victor raised an eyebrow.

About fifteen seconds later, the door opened.

Elder Benton walked inside.

"Ah, good. You’re awake."

Victor sat straighter.

"You only have a moment, so I’m going to explain what’s about to happen."

Victor nodded.

"Okay. Go ahead."

"I’m about to bring you into another room. I can’t tell you who the people inside are."

Benton gestured toward the Space Witch.

"Everyone will be wearing masks, just like her. You won’t know their identities, and you’re not to ask."

"Understood."

"These are the people you’re going to have to make your case to. They’re the ones capable of bringing together the power necessary to save Lyra."

Victor’s expression became serious.

"I’m ready."

Benton studied him.

"You only have one chance at this. The moment they decide you’re untrustworthy, you’ll be barred from returning. There won’t be another opportunity."

"I understand."

"Good."

Benton paused before giving him a surprisingly genuine smile.

"You’re going to have to explain quite a lot before they’ll trust you. But with the number of surprises you’ve shown me so far, if anyone can convince them, I believe you can."

Victor stared at him for a moment.

"Thank you, Elder Benton."

His voice was quiet.

Then he stood.

"I’m ready. Let’s do this."

Benton nodded and led him out of the room.

The Space Witch followed.

They walked through a long hallway without speaking. The same pale walls stretched ahead of them until a massive pair of double doors finally came into view.

Benton stopped.

Victor looked at the doors.

Beyond the doors were the people who could help Victor.

Victor took a breath.

Benton pushed the doors open.

Victor stepped inside.

His eyes widened slightly.

The room was enormous.

Around fifteen people were physically present, each wearing a mask that completely concealed their identity.

But they weren’t alone.

Another ten figures appeared throughout the room as holographic projections. They wore masks as well, their bodies flickering faintly with artificial light.

Twenty-five people.

And every single one of them was staring directly at Victor.

Even through their masks, he could see it in their eyes.

Suspicion.

Curiosity.

Distrust.

Nobody greeted him.

Nobody introduced themselves.

The message was obvious.

Who is this boy, and why should we trust him?

Victor swallowed.

He had his work cut out for him.

But there was too much on the line to fail.

Lyra was depending on him.

Victor was about to speak when something suddenly flew through the open doors behind him.

A black blur shot across the room.

Nala landed on his shoulder.

"Chirp! Chirp!"

Victor turned toward her.

He hadn’t even known where she’d been.

A small smile crossed his face as he rubbed the top of her head.

She settled onto his shoulder.

Then she stared at the masked figures around the room, feathers slightly raised, as though daring any of them to come closer.

Victor couldn’t help but smile again.

It didn’t exactly help his situation.

But for a moment, it helped him.

Then he faced the room.

His smile disappeared.

"I don’t know any of you."

Silence.

"And I’m sure most of you have already heard about me."

Victor paused.

"You already know my name is Victor Ashcroft. You already know I’m suspected of having been inside the Sanctuary."

His eyes moved across the masks.

"And you already know that you don’t know whether you can trust me."

One of the masked figures spoke.

"How do we know you’re not lying?"

Victor looked toward him.

"You don’t."

Murmurs immediately spread through the room.

Victor raised a hand.

"But let me start with this."

He reached into his storage ring.

Rakasha’s feather appeared in his hand.

The room changed instantly.

Several people straightened.

Others leaned forward.

Even some of the projections seemed to shift closer.

Victor held the feather where everyone could see.

"I’m sure many of you already understand what this is. You can feel the cultivation radiating from it."

Nobody interrupted him.

"The energy inside this feather is leagues beyond anyone standing in this room."

Victor paused.

"Because it came from The Guardian Spirit."

The room became quieter.

"Samal’s companion."

His fingers tightened around the feather.

"Rakasha."

For half a heartbeat, there was silence.

Then several voices broke it at once.

"He knows her name?"

"How does he know that?"

"Don’t be stupid. Even the Evil God Organization knows the name of Samal’s companion. The name proves nothing."

"But the feather does."

"Does it?"

Another masked figure leaned forward.

"How do we even know the Guardian Spirit is still alive?"

Someone immediately answered.

"He’s right. That feather could be thousands of years old."

Another voice joined in.

"It could’ve been inside the same storage ring where he supposedly found those pills."

"I believe he’s lying."

Victor listened without interrupting.

He’d expected resistance.

Still, this was worse than he’d hoped.

"I agree with you."

That quieted some of them.

Victor held up the feather.

"I can’t prove Rakasha personally gave me this feather."

His gaze moved across the room.

"But you also can’t prove she didn’t."

Nobody answered.

"And the feather isn’t the only thing."

Victor gestured toward himself.

"You’ve already heard about Lyra. You know she’s a Shadow Fox, and you know we’re connected through a Soul Bond."

He lowered the feather.

"That bond allows me to locate her."

His expression hardened.

"That’s the only reason I was able to find the Evil God hideout.

Victor lowered his hand.

Then he waited.

No one looked convinced.