This is a warning room. Everything in here should give you one thought: You messed up.
The owl’s niche is octagonal, like a stop sign. Once it delivered its message, it TURNs its BACK.
Spoiler
If you got here from Room 18, your choices are either Room 5, which is a significant backtrack, or Room 27, which can lead to a trap.
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. It’s almost as if the painting of Room 1 is telling you it might be better to start again.