The entire Future Cave shook violently.
Blue energy surged from the Chrono Core.
Cracks spread across the walls.
Students, professors, and robots rushed toward the exits.
The machine was becoming unstable.
Professor Luca looked at the Chrono Core and immediately understood.
"If it reaches full activation, everyone here will die!"
Nova stood frozen before the machine.
For the first time, he didn't look powerful.
He looked lost.
"Nova!" Luca shouted.
"Step away from the Chrono Core!"
Nova didn't move.
The blue energy continued surrounding him.
Luna noticed something strange.
Nova's eyes seemed different.
Almost confused.
As if he was finally waking up from a dream.
Suddenly, a massive energy beam shot from the Chrono Core.
Directly toward Nova.
"LOOK OUT!" Kai shouted.
Before anyone could react, Professor Luca ran forward.
"UNCLE LUCA!" Luna screamed.
Luca pushed Nova away.
The energy struck him instead.
The force threw both brothers across the chamber.
"Luca!" Nova shouted.
Everyone froze.
The chamber became silent.
Nova crawled toward his brother.
The same brother he had spent years fighting.
The same brother he blamed for everything.
Professor Luca smiled weakly.
"You idiot."
Nova stared at him.
"W-Why?"
"Why did you save me?"
Luca laughed softly.
"Because you're my brother."
Nova shook his head.
"No."
"No."
"You shouldn't have done that."
Luca slowly reached out and placed his hand on Nova's shoulder.
His voice became gentle.
"Nova."
"When we were children..."
"You were never bad."
Nova looked away.
"Stop."
"You were curious."
"You were intelligent."
"You wanted to help people."
"STOP."
Nova's voice cracked.
"You don't know me."
Luca smiled sadly.
"I know you better than anyone."
Tears began forming in Nova's eyes.
"You became lost."
"That doesn't mean you were born evil."
Nova clenched his fists.
"I am not innocent."
"I was always like this."
"No."
Luca shook his head.
"You weren't."
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Luca sighed.
"I'm tired, Nova."
Years of pain echoed in those words.
"I'm tired of fighting you."
"I'm tired of losing family."
"I'm tired of watching everyone suffer."
Nova stared at his brother.
Unable to speak.
Luca slowly turned toward Luna.
His expression became filled with guilt.
"Luna."
She immediately rushed toward him.
"Professor Luca..."
Luca lowered his head.
"I owe you an apology."
Luna looked confused.
"What?"
"Jasmine."
The name alone made the room silent.
Luca's eyes filled with regret.
"What happened to your mother..."
"We should have prevented it."
"We should have protected her."
Tears appeared in Luna's eyes.
"It wasn't your fault."
Luca shook his head.
"It was our responsibility."
"We failed her."
"We failed you."
Luna didn't know what to say.
For years she had searched for answers.
And now one of the people closest to her mother was apologizing.
Suddenly Nova grabbed his head.
"No..."
His voice trembled.
"No..."
Everyone turned toward him.
Nova fell to his knees.
Images flashed across his mind.
Voices.
Commands.
Years of whispers.
Years of manipulation.
Then suddenly...
Everything broke.
Nova screamed.
A painful scream filled with confusion.
And tears.
So many tears.
He cried like a child.
For the first time in years.
Professor Luca slowly sat beside him.
Neither spoke.
Nova finally looked up.
"I hear him."
Everyone froze.
"What?" Luna asked.
Nova wiped his tears.
"The voice."
"The one who guided me."
"The one who told me what to do."
Kai frowned.
"Who is he?"
Nova shook his head.
"I don't know."
"I never saw him."
"What?"
"I only heard his voice."
The room became silent.
"He contacted me years ago."
"He knew everything."
"He knew about Jasmine."
"He knew about the Chrono Core."
"He told me what to do."
Nova looked at Luna.
His expression had completely changed.
The arrogance was gone.
Only fear remained.
"Luna."
"What?"
"The truth..."
"You already have it."
Everyone stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
Nova pointed toward her chest.
"Something inside you."
"Something Jasmine left behind."
Luna's heart skipped a beat.
Nova continued.
"He needs you."
"He needs you to activate the Chrono Core."
The room fell silent.
No one understood completely.
But everyone knew one thing.
The mystery was far from over.
Suddenly...
The cave lights turned red.
A warning echoed everywhere.
UNAUTHORIZED INFORMATION DETECTED
Nova's eyes widened.
"No."
The shadows around him began moving.
"What is happening?" Zoey asked.
Nova slowly stood.
His body started breaking apart into blue particles.
Luna stepped forward.
"Nova!"
Nova looked terrified.
"He's here."
"Who?" Kai shouted.
"The voice."
The particles spread faster.
Nova's body was disappearing.
"No!"
Professor Luca grabbed his brother's hand.
But it was too late.
Nova looked at Luna one last time.
"Find the truth... inside yourself..."
Then he vanished.
Gone.
As if someone had erased him from existence.
The entire chamber became silent.
A small hologram suddenly appeared.
Meow.
But this time, the robot looked different.
The fear was gone.
The hesitation was gone.
Meow floated toward Luna.
"Professor Nova's control signal has been destroyed."
Luna looked at the robot.
"You knew all along."
Meow nodded.
"Partially."
Professor Luca frowned.
"Who are you really?"
Meow smiled.
For the first time.
"I am M.E.O.W."
"Multiversal Exploration and Observation Worker."
Everyone blinked.
James burst out laughing.
"That's what Meow stands for?!"
Nobody expected that.
Even Luna laughed.
Then Meow became serious.
"I was created by Professor Jasmine."
The room froze.
"What?" Luna whispered.
"Professor Jasmine was my creator."
"I was her assistant."
Her assistant.
Luna suddenly felt closer to her mother than ever before.
Meow projected a small holographic recording.
For a brief moment, Luna saw her mother's smiling face.
Then it disappeared.
"I was instructed to protect you."
Tears appeared in Luna's eyes.
Meow opened a hidden compartment.
Three glowing star-shaped crystals floated into the air.
Blue.
Silver.
Golden.
The stars slowly moved toward Luna.
"What are these?" Mili asked.
Meow carefully handed them to Luna.
"Three Star Keys."
"They belong to you."
"What do they do?"
Meow smiled.
"When the time comes..."
"They will help you find Professor Jasmine."
Everyone stared.
Luna carefully held the stars.
For the first time, she felt hope.
Real hope.
Several hours later...
The students and professors safely returned to the academy.
The Future Cave was sealed.
The Chrono Core was temporarily stabilized.
Everyone was exhausted.
As the sun set over Stairthaire, Luna and her friends stood together outside the academy.
Nobody spoke for a while.
Finally James sighed.
"Can we please have one normal week?"
Everyone laughed.
Even Professor Luca.
Luna looked at the three glowing stars in her hand.
Somewhere out there...
The truth about her mother was waiting.
And the mysterious voice was still watching.
The next adventure had already begun.
End of Chapter 16