The loud vibration of an alarm clock echoed through the cramped dormitory room, pulling Dylan from the shallow sleep he had managed to get during the night.His eyes slowly opened as he stared blankly at the cracked ceiling above him. For several moments, he remained motionless on the narrow bed while exhaustion weighed heavily on his body, making even the thought of moving feel burdensome. His bloodshot eyes and the dark circles beneath them were clear evidence of the countless sleepless nights he had endured recently, and judging by the time he had fallen asleep, he doubted he had managed more than three hours of rest.The faint smell of instant noodles mixed with old textbooks lingered in the air, creating the familiar atmosphere that had become his daily reality. Clothes were piled carelessly in one corner of the room, while stacks of papers, research notes, circuit diagrams, and electronic components occupied nearly every inch of the study desk beside his bed.Rubbing his face

Dylan turned around curiously as the old woman remained silent for several moments before reaching beneath the layers of her worn clothing. Her movements were slow and deliberate, and her weathered fingers carefully searched through the faded fabric until they finally pulled something free.A small object dangled from an old, frayed string, drawing Dylan's attention immediately. As he narrowed his eyes and examined it more closely, he realized it was an ancient-looking black amulet.Although it appeared ordinary at first glance, the longer he stared at it, the stranger it seemed. Its dark surface appeared to absorb the sunlight around it rather than reflect it, while unfamiliar symbols were engraved along its edges in intricate patterns. The markings resembled no language he had ever encountered, giving the object an unsettling and mysterious aura.The old woman studied the amulet for several seconds before extending it toward him."This is my most precious possession," she said softl

The cold metal door slammed shut behind Dylan with a deafening bang that echoed throughout the small security holding room. For several seconds, he remained standing in place as his chest rose and fell unevenly while he struggled to steady his breathing. His thoughts were in complete disarray, and the events of the day felt so surreal that part of him still couldn't believe any of it had actually happened.Only a few hours earlier, he had been standing beneath bright stage lights while holding the greatest achievement of his life in his hands. After years of hardship, sacrifice, and relentless determination, he had finally accomplished something that made every sleepless night feel worthwhile. Now, however, he found himself sitting inside the university security office like a criminal.A security officer standing nearby glanced at him with obvious disapproval before gesturing toward a chair."Sit down."Without arguing, Dylan lowered himself into the chair opposite the interrogation d

The next morning, Dylan woke up feeling as though his entire body had been run over by a truck. His head throbbed painfully, and even opening his eyes required more effort than it should have. For several seconds, he simply stared blankly at the ceiling above his bed while trying to gather his thoughts.Then reality returned.Memories of Amber, Brandon, the security office, and losing his job flooded back into his mind, instantly souring his mood. A bitter sigh escaped his lips as he slowly sat upright.The dorm room remained unusually quiet. One of his roommates snored softly from the opposite bed while the other was completely buried beneath a blanket. The fried chicken celebration from the previous night had helped lighten his mood for a few hours, but now that morning had arrived, every painful memory came crashing back again.Dylan rubbed his face tiredly before reaching for his phone.The moment the screen lit up, his expression froze.A notification blinked repeatedly across th

The fading rays of the evening sun filtered through the canopy of trees, bathing the quiet campus park in a warm golden hue that contrasted sharply with Dylan's miserable appearance. He remained seated on the cold wooden bench where everything had begun, his shoulders slumped beneath the crushing weight of exhaustion while the dull ache spreading across his bruised body served as a constant reminder of the humiliation he had suffered only minutes earlier. His shirt was stained with dirt, his knuckles were scraped raw, and every breath sent a faint pain rippling through his ribs, making it painfully obvious that today's encounter had left far deeper scars than those visible on the surface. Despite the physical agony clouding his senses, none of it compared to the emotional burden pressing against his chest. His scholarship was gone, his tuition debt remained unresolved, and the people responsible for turning his life upside down were likely enjoying themselves without a single trac