One week later, the Science of Universe Academy finally reopened.
Luna stood at the academy gate with Mili, Kai, James, and Lucas.
"I missed this place," Mili said.
"You missed causing trouble," James corrected.
"That's also true," Mili replied proudly.
The friends laughed and entered the academy.
But almost immediately Luna noticed something unusual.
The giant holographic screen in the center of campus was flashing red warning symbols.
Students and teachers were gathered around it.
"What's happening?" Lucas asked.
"I don't know," Kai replied.
Suddenly the warning disappeared.
The screen turned black.
Then a face appeared.
Everyone gasped.
It was Professor Luca.
"Professor Luca!" Luna shouted.
The recording looked old and distorted.
Professor Luca seemed tired.
"If anyone is watching this message..." he said.
Static interrupted the recording.
The image flickered.
"The Chrono Core is not safe."
More static.
"Do not let Nova—"
The screen suddenly went black.
The entire academy fell silent.
"What was that?" Mili whispered.
Headmaster Hendrix quickly arrived with several professors.
"Everyone return to your classes immediately."
"But that was Professor Luca!" Luna protested.
Headmaster Hendrix looked worried.
"I know."
"Then where is he?"
For a moment, the Headmaster didn't answer.
"We still don't know."
Later that day, Luna and her friends met in the library.
"Did you hear what he said?" Kai asked.
"'Do not let Nova...'"
"Do not let Nova what?" Lucas asked.
"Escape?" James suggested.
"Control something?" Mili guessed.
Luna sat quietly.
Something bothered her.
If Professor Luca had recorded that message, why was it appearing now?
And what was the Chrono Core?
Suddenly Zoey ran into the library.
"You guys need to see this!"
"What happened?" Luna asked.
Zoey placed a tablet on the table.
The news report showed the prison where Professor Nova was being held.
The reporter spoke nervously.
"Authorities have confirmed unusual energy activity around Nova's containment chamber."
Everyone stared at the screen.
The camera zoomed in.
For just a second, Professor Nova looked directly at the camera.
And smiled.
A cold chill ran down Luna's spine.
"That's not a normal smile," Kai said.
"No," Luna agreed.
"It feels like he knows something."
Far beneath the academy, hidden behind layers of ancient technology, a forgotten machine suddenly activated.
A blue light flashed.
Then another.
And another.
A robotic voice echoed through the darkness.
"Searching for Professor Luca..."
"Search complete."
"Location found."
To Be Continued...
Luna suddenly stood up from her chair.
Everyone looked at her.
"Luna?" Mili asked.
Luna started pacing back and forth.
"No... no... something isn't normal."
"What do you mean?" James asked.
Luna stopped.
Her hands were shaking slightly.
"Something is wrong."
The room became quiet.
"Luna, calm down," Lucas said.
"No!" Luna replied. "Think about everything that has happened."
Everyone stared at her.
"Professor Luca disappeared."
"Then that strange message appeared today."
"Now there is unusual activity around Nova's prison."
Luna took a deep breath.
"You guys remember the Future Cave?"
The group exchanged glances.
"Of course we do," Kai said.
Luna looked directly at them.
"I definitely saw Nova."
"What?" Zoey asked.
"In the vision."
Everyone immediately became serious.
Luna continued.
"I remember running."
"Running away from someone."
Her voice became quieter.
"And that someone was Nova."
A chill filled the room.
Lucas frowned.
"But the machine wasn't working properly that day."
"The Future Cave equipment was unstable."
"I know," Luna replied.
"But what if part of the vision was real?"
Nobody answered.
The possibility was frightening.
Kai crossed his arms.
"Whether the vision was real or not, one thing is clear."
Everyone looked at him.
"We need to find Professor Luca."
Luna nodded immediately.
"Exactly."
"He knows what's happening."
"He knows about Nova."
"And maybe..."
Her voice trembled.
"...maybe he knows something about my mother too."
Zoey looked completely confused.
"Okay, stop."
Everyone turned toward her.
"Can someone please explain what's going on?"
Zoey pointed at Luna.
"One minute we're talking about a missing professor."
She pointed at Kai.
"Then you're talking about finding him."
She pointed at Lucas.
"Then there's a broken machine."
Finally she threw her hands in the air.
"And now there's a future vision involving a criminal professor!"
Mili laughed.
"Fair point."
James nodded.
"She deserves an explanation."
Luna sat down and began explaining everything that had happened inside the Future Cave.
The strange visions.
The malfunctioning machine.
The glimpse of Nova.
The feeling that something terrible was coming.
As Luna finished, Zoey's eyes widened.
"So you're telling me..."
"There's a chance you saw an actual future?"
"We don't know," Lucas replied.
"That's the problem."
At that moment, a notification suddenly appeared on every student's academy tablet.
EMERGENCY NOTICE
Restricted Area B-17 has been breached.
All students must remain inside authorized zones.
The friends stared at the message.
Then another line appeared.
Investigation initiated.
Possible connection to Professor Luca's disappearance.
The room fell silent.
Kai slowly looked up.
"I don't think we're the only ones searching for Professor Luca."
Luna felt a knot form in her stomach.
For the first time, the mystery was no longer in the past.
It was happening right now.
The emergency notice spread through the academy within minutes.
At first, everyone thought it was just another security alert.
But by the next morning, things became much worse.
Luna and her friends entered their classroom.
Something felt wrong.
"Where's Professor Orion?" Mili asked.
The professor's desk was empty.
Students whispered among themselves.
A few minutes later, another teacher entered the room.
"Professor Orion will not be teaching today."
"Why?" a student asked.
The teacher hesitated.
"He is... unavailable."
Luna immediately exchanged a glance with Kai.
Something wasn't right.
During lunch break, the academy announced another emergency meeting.
Headmaster Hendrix appeared on every holographic screen.
His expression was serious.
"Students, please remain calm."
The moment he said that, everyone became nervous.
"We have confirmed that several professors and students are currently missing."
The cafeteria exploded with panic.
"What?!"
"Missing?"
"How many?"
The Headmaster continued.
"The academy is investigating the situation."
The screen turned off.
Nobody felt reassured.
That evening, Luna, Mili, Kai, Lucas, James, and Zoey gathered in their usual meeting room.
"This is bad," Zoey said.
"No kidding," Lucas replied.
James was reading a list on his tablet.
"Professor Orion."
"Professor Vega."
"Three senior students."
"Two second-year students."
Everyone became silent.
"They're disappearing one by one," Mili whispered.
Luna clenched her fists.
"This is connected."
"To Professor Luca?" Kai asked.
Luna nodded.
"I'm sure of it."
Suddenly another notification appeared on James's tablet.
His eyes widened.
"Guys..."
"What now?" Lucas asked.
James swallowed.
"Another student disappeared."
The room fell silent.
Nobody laughed.
Nobody joked.
For the first time, the danger felt real.
Zoey nervously looked around.
"Why does this academy suddenly feel like a horror movie?"
"I know, right?" Lucas agreed.
Then James dropped his head onto the table dramatically.
"Oh, come on!"
Everyone looked at him.
James pointed at the group.
"Why is it always us?"
"What?" Mili asked.
James stood up.
"Seriously!"
"Every single time something weird happens, we're involved!"
He started counting on his fingers.
"Future Cave."
"Missing professors."
"Strange messages."
"Nova."
"Secret mysteries."
"Ancient technology."
Then he pointed at himself.
"And somehow we're always standing right in the middle of it!"
Kai laughed.
"He's not wrong."
Lucas nodded.
"Actually, he's completely right."
Zoey raised her hand.
"I joined recently and even I'm already involved."
"See!" James shouted.
"Exactly!"
Luna couldn't help laughing.
For a moment, the tension disappeared.
Then a familiar voice echoed through the room.
"Because you're the only ones asking the right questions."
Everyone froze.
The voice had come from one of the academy computers.
The screen suddenly switched on by itself.
Static flickered across the display.
Then a hidden recording appeared.
The image was blurry.
But there was no mistaking who it was.
"Professor Luca!" Luna exclaimed.
The professor looked exhausted.
As if he had been running for days.
"If you're seeing this..." he said.
"...then they have already started."
The recording glitched.
"They are not taking random people."
Luna's heart pounded.
Professor Luca looked directly into the camera.
"They are searching for something."
The image shook violently.
"And if Nova escapes..."
Static consumed the screen.
The recording ended.
The room became completely silent.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, James sighed.
"I knew it."
"What?" Kai asked.
James pointed at the dark screen.
"We're definitely involved now."