"What a nuisance..." Aric sat at the sleek library table, trying to look casual, even though his right hand was still heavily bandaged. The holographic text before him flickered softly, but he wasn't focused on the words. It was all just for the show.
Instead, his attention remained fixed on the entrance to the Sanctum of Records, waiting for Loren to make his move. "Where are you, Loren..."
It was nearly eleven at night when Loren finally entered the library. Aric felt a wave of relief wash over him, but he kept his expression neutral, pretending to read.
Still clearly recovering from his injuries, Loren moved slowly through the rows of books, doing his best to appear natural. But every step seemed to take more effort than it should, and Aric couldn't help but feel a knot of concern tighten in his chest.
Then, out of his eye, Aric spotted someone else in the library—Warden Galen Valen.
'Of course, he's here,' Aric thought bitterly.
Galen was of the family's younger generations, a cousin known for his quick movements and tendency to show off. He'd recently been promoted to Warden, but Aric knew Galen still had much to prove.
His power and enhanced agility made him nimble and fast, but they also made him reckless. Galen liked to patrol the estate, especially places like the library, hoping to catch someone breaking the rules so he could show off his authority.
It seemed that Galen was watching the library in the absence of many of the higher-ups tonight higher-ups. "What a bad time..."
Aric's pulse quickened as he realized how much harder this would be. Loren was still injured, and moving through the library slowly was necessary.
Still, it also made him a prime target for someone like Galen, who was always looking for any sign of weakness. Aric needed to do something.
For now, Galen seemed absorbed in his routine, zipping from one section of the library to another, straightening books, and checking the security of the more restricted areas. He hadn't noticed Loren yet, but that could change.
'Time to do my part,' Aric thought, rising from his seat.
He moved toward the main section of the library toward Galen just as the Warden paused to inspect a row of holographic shelves. Aric walked purposefully, trying to blend in with the library's atmosphere.
"Hey, Galen!" Aric called out, putting on his most relaxed tone.
Galen glanced up, his sharp eyes locking onto Aric immediately. A small, smug smile crept onto his lips. "Well, look who it is. Aric is out and about. What brings you here so late? Aren't you supposed to recover?"
Aric shrugged, pretending to be unbothered by Galen's condescending tone. "Just browsing, you know. Trying to catch up on some reading while I've got the time."
Galen's gaze shifted to Aric's bandaged hand. "That's probably for the best," he said. "However, when you can start training since you're not a Nova, you should focus more on building your strength."
He looked around and said, "I can't help you with that. I'm only good at training others in speed."
Aric forced a smile. "Yeah. You're pretty fast, and your training is effective, Galen."
Galen grinned, clearly pleased by the compliment. "True enough," he said, his chest puffing out slightly. "But you know, speed's not everything. There's discipline, skill, and—well, let's just say not everyone in the family can keep up."
Aric suppressed his laughter. Galen was always looking for an opportunity to show off; that was exactly what Aric needed him to do now. It might give Loren enough time to slip past unnoticed if he could keep Galen talking.
"Yeah, I've been thinking about that a lot lately," Aric said, casually moving toward one of the nearby shelves. "What's the point of being fast or strong if you're not disciplined? You seem like you've mastered both."
Galen's grin widened. "Finally, someone who gets it." He leaned back against one of the shelves, clearly enjoying the attention. "I've been saying that for years. Strength, speed—it's all useless if you don't have the discipline to back it up."
Aric nodded along, keeping his eyes on Galen. At the same time, Loren, on the other side of the library, slowly made his way closer to the Sanctum of Records. Each step seemed to take an eternity, but Loren was careful, moving only when Galen was distracted by his boasting.
"I've been thinking about training more once my hand's better," Aric continued, trying to keep Galen's attention. "Maybe you could give me some pointers."
Galen's eyes lit up. "You want to train with me?" He smirked. "Well, it's not like I have much to teach you, well... you know, with your status, but I suppose I could give you a few pointers."
Aric chuckled though his mind was racing. Loren was almost at the Sanctum's entrance now, but Galen wasn't showing any signs of stopping his patrol. Aric needed to buy just a little more time.
"Definitely. Who else in the family has mastered speed like you?" Aric said, laying the flattery on thick. "I've seen how fast you are—no one else even comes close in the younger generation."
Galen puffed up even more, clearly enjoying every word. "Well, I won't argue. It's true. I've worked hard to perfect my agility. Most Novas don't realize how important speed is, but I've always known it was the key."
As Galen rambled about his training and techniques, Loren finally reached the door to the Sanctum of Records. Aric's heart pounded as Loren glanced briefly at him, giving a small nod before reaching for the lock.
'Almost there…'
As Loren finally reached the door of the Sanctum of Records and slipped inside, Aric let out a small, involuntary sigh of relief. He had managed to distract Galen long enough, and now Loren was inside. The hardest part was over—or so he thought.
But his relief didn't go unnoticed.
Galen narrowed his eyes slightly, his brow furrowing as he regarded Aric. "What was that about?" he asked, his tone a bit sharper than before.
Aric's pulse quickened, but he kept his expression calm, quickly thinking on his feet. "Oh, nothing!" he said, waving his hand dismissively. "Just relieved, you know? I didn't think you'd be so willing to help me out with training. It's been tough… you know, without powers and all."
Galen's suspicion seemed to wane slightly, but his expression was still thoughtful, as if something didn't sit quite right with him. Aric knew he had to keep the conversation going and steer Galen away from anything that might seem out of place.
"Yeah, I don't exactly get many people on my side," Aric continued, somber. "You know how it is—being part of a family like this but… not having powers. It's hard to get anyone to take me seriously."
Galen's lips curled into a faint smile, but his eyes showed no pity. Instead, there was a smug sense of superiority. "Well, that's just how it is, right? Power is everything in this family, and you will struggle if you don't have it. But hey, it's my nature to help those in need."
Aric bit back an eye roll, keeping his expression neutral as Galen started to puff up with pride. Of course, instead of understanding Aric's plight, Galen saw this as another opportunity to brag about himself. It was exactly what Aric had been hoping for.
"You see," Galen continued, his voice taking on that familiar self-important tone, "It's what sets me apart from the rest of the family. While some focus on themselves, I make sure to lend a hand where needed."
Aric nodded, pretending to listen intently. "That's really admirable, Galen. Not everyone has that kind of mindset."
Galen straightened up, clearly enjoying the praise. "Exactly! Getting caught up in our power is easy, but real strength comes from helping those who need it. That's why I've always been willing to train and offer guidance. It's just who I am."
Aric glanced at the Sanctum door, ensuring no one else was paying attention. Loren was inside, working on the next step of their plan, but if Galen grew suspicious again, everything could fall apart.
"I mean, I'm really lucky to have someone like you willing to help me," Aric added, doing his best to keep Galen talking. "Most people just see me as… well, someone who doesn't belong."
Galen waved a hand dismissively as if brushing off the very idea. "Don't worry about that. You just need the right mindset. I've always believed that even without powers, you can still find a way to contribute—if you're smart about it."
Aric nodded again, his thoughts racing as he tried to gauge how long he needed to keep this going. Loren was inside the Sanctum, but how much time did he have before someone else noticed?
The pressure was mounting, but if he could keep Galen focused on himself a little longer, they just might pull this off.
Meanwhile, Loren's heart raced as he stood in front of the sealed door to the Sanctum of Records, the faint glow of the security panel illuminating his pale face.
His hands trembled slightly, still sore from his injuries, but he couldn't afford to let that slow him down now. He'd made it this far, but the hardest part was getting inside.
'Focus, Loren,' Loren thought, taking a deep breath. He glanced over his shoulder, ensuring no one had followed him, then turned his attention to the control panel.
He punched in the code he'd learned weeks ago, the one David always used for high-level access points within the Valen estate. Loren was sure it hadn't changed... until it flashed red.
[Access Denied]
Loren's heart sank. 'No. Come on. Not now.' The message only meant one thing; David had changed the code.
His fingers hovered over the panel, his mind working at lightning speed. If he didn't crack this quickly, someone might notice. He needed to break the code—and fast.
'Okay, think. David always changes the codes based on patterns. It's not random. There's always logic behind it.'
He stared at the panel, the faint sound of the library in the background fading as his brain kicked into high gear. David was meticulous with everything, especially security. Loren had studied his uncle's habits for years. He could crack this by figuring out David's thought process.
'What would David use as the new code? Something recent?'
Loren punched in the date of David's last known project, but the panel flashed red again.
[Access Denied]
"Again?" Loren wiped the sweat from his brow, frustration starting to build. His super intelligence was supposed to help him in moments like this, but with the pressure mounting, even his sharp mind struggled to keep pace. He closed his eyes for a moment, forcing himself to think clearly.
'David doesn't use obvious codes. They're always tied to something personal, something meaningful to him.'
He ran through the possibilities. Dates related to their family? Significant events? But it couldn't be anything too predictable—David was smarter than that. It had to be something only a few would know.
'Maybe something about his research,' Loren thought, his mind spinning faster. 'What's he been working on lately?'
Loren wracked his brain, trying to remember the last conversation he'd overheard between David and the Elders. They'd mentioned a recent discovery—a breakthrough in energy manipulation. That had to be it.
But what part of that would he use as a code?
Loren's fingers hovered over the keys again. Then it hit him.
'The equation. He mentioned a breakthrough formula last week.'
Loren quickly punched in a numerical string—the last three digits of the formula David had mentioned. His hand hesitated momentarily before pressing the final key, and his breath caught in his throat.
[Access Granted]
The panel flashed green, and the door slid open with a quiet hiss.
Loren exhaled sharply, his body sagging with relief. He'd done it—he'd cracked the code. But there was no time to celebrate. He stepped inside the Sanctum of Records, the door sliding shut behind him.