The weight of Wilburt's words still lingered as I made my way down the dimly lit hallway of the Art Academy. It was late, but something kept pulling me back toward that secret room where I had found the Oculus Aeternum. My steps echoed, the air thick with anticipation. The memory of our conversation replayed in my head, but the more I thought about it, the more things seemed off. Wilburt hadn't been to campus for days. No messages, no sign of him. I had checked his pub twice, and it was locked up—like he had vanished into thin air.
Now, with the upcoming exhibition looming, my mind was spiraling. I needed answers, and something told me I'd find them where this all started.
As I approached the door to the forgotten room, I noticed something strange—a light coming from inside. My heart pounded, a heavy thud in my chest. I hesitated, fear gnawing at me, but curiosity overpowered the instinct to turn back. I pushed the door open slowly.
Hana stood in the middle of the room, her hand hovering over the Oculus Aeternum. She didn't hear me enter. For a second, I couldn't breathe. What was she doing here?
Before I could speak, a voice from the shadows startled us both.
"You shouldn't have come here."
I whirled around. A figure stepped out of the darkness. It was Professor Park, the head of the Graphic Design department, a man praised for his eye for innovation and design. His eyes were cold, calculating, and I could sense something more was going on.
"Professor?" I managed to choke out. "What's going on?"
Hana stepped back, her hand slowly retreating from the Oculus Aeternum. She looked between us, clearly rattled by the intrusion.
Professor Park smirked, leaning against a desk piled with dusty old canvases. "I figured you'd both end up here eventually. So, I'll clear the air now." He gestured to the Oculus Aeternum, the device I'd been obsessing over for days. "This is just a prototype design for the exhibition. It's a concept created by our top students—an exploration of how technology and art can merge to enhance human vision."
My stomach sank, a cold realization settling over me. It was a design. Just a piece of art for the upcoming high-stakes competition at the Art Academy. All my paranoia, all the late nights spent turning this device over in my mind, convinced it was something revolutionary, and it turned out—it was nothing more than an elaborate exhibit.
I glanced at Hana, but she wouldn't meet my eyes.
"So... it's not real?" I asked, trying to grasp the truth.
Professor Park let out a dry chuckle. "Oh, it's real enough as an idea. But no, the Oculus Aeternum is not the cutting-edge tech you thought it was. It's a project intended to push the boundaries of creativity, a conceptual art piece for our annual competition. You've seen the announcement, haven't you?"
I vaguely remembered the emails about the Art Academy Innovation Competition, a prestigious event that drew the attention of sponsors and major companies. Winning meant exposure, scholarships, and sometimes, job offers with influential firms. But this revelation—it felt like a sucker punch. I had been overthinking everything, believing I'd stumbled onto a groundbreaking invention, when in reality, I'd been preparing for a glorified art project.
My mind reeled. But if the Oculus Aeternum was just a design, why had Wilburt been so cryptic about everything? Why had he vanished?
"Where's Wilburt?" I blurted out, ignoring Professor Park's smirk. "He's been missing for days."
Hana glanced at me sharply, her face tightening with worry. "You've noticed too? He hasn't been answering my calls either."
Professor Park's expression flickered, the smugness evaporating for a second. "Wilburt's disappearance... it's unrelated to this."
"Unrelated? What do you mean?" I demanded, stepping forward.
Park hesitated before sighing deeply. "Look, Wilburt has... issues. Family matters back in Shanxi that are complicated. He didn't want to burden anyone here with them. I wouldn't be surprised if he went back home for a while without telling anyone."
Something about his tone struck me as evasive, but before I could press further, Professor Park cut in. "You've got more important things to focus on. The Oculus Aeternum design is up for grabs at the exhibition. Whoever integrates it into their art the best will win this year's competition. So, I suggest you use your energy for that instead of chasing ghosts."
The words felt like a dismissal, but I couldn't let go of the feeling that there was more he wasn't telling me. Especially about Wilburt.
I stole a glance at Hana, but she was still quiet, her brow furrowed. "What about you, Hana?" I asked, a faint edge to my voice. "Why were you here?"
She blinked, her gaze softening. "I was curious. When Wilburt disappeared, I thought maybe... maybe this room had something to do with it. I came here looking for answers, just like you." She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto mine. "You know as well as I do that there's more to this than just some art exhibit."
Professor Park shifted uncomfortably, clearly not liking where the conversation was heading. "That's enough for now. Focus on the exhibition. We'll deal with Wilburt when the time comes."
The tension in the room was palpable as Hana and I exchanged a look. This wasn't over. I didn't know what was really going on, but one thing was for sure: I wasn't letting this drop. There was too much at stake—more than just some competition.
As we left the room, the cold air of the hallway hit me like a wake-up call. Hana fell into step beside me, her expression mirroring my unease.
"What do you think happened to Wilburt?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know," I admitted, feeling the weight of uncertainty. "But I'm going to find out."
With the exhibition fast approaching, the stakes were higher than ever. The Oculus Aeternum may not have been what I thought, but something told me the truth behind it was far more complicated than anyone was letting on. And now, with Wilburt gone, it was up to me to unravel the mystery—before it was too late.