Enzo closed the journal, scooped up his glass, and followed in Tiberius' wake toward the tower. More so than any other part of the Umbra estate, this place had been forbidden to him for as long and Enzo could remember. So certain was that fact that, even now, he hesitated at the doorway. Stopped there, he watched Tiberius enter and produce the light they'd need to work in the dark space.
It was a wonder to see him; a thrill to watch the world around him be altered by his presence. Books moved, dust disturbed, wine bottles emptying... all because Tiberius was here. Six years wasn't so long. Indeed, he had many friends he'd not seen for longer spells of time. Their visits to Minrathaus didn't alter reality in the same way. Enzo walked slowly into the tower, his eyes following as Tiberius moved about, collecting books and scrolls.
No, it wasn't the years. It was that, during those years, a not insignificant portion of his heart had been lost to him. He'd grieved for this man whose hands now shuffled journals aside to make room for another tome. He'd lost hope in ever seeing those hands again. He took three steps forward, prepared to wrap an arm around Tiberius' waist, to pull him against his own chest. To feel him breathing. But he stopped, swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed in his throat with a bit of the wine. Tiberius was engaged now.
Stepping around the desk, Enzo covered his near faux pas with a smile. Lowering himself dramatically down into the chair, he moved left and right a bit, ran his hands over the armrest as if appraising it and finding it satisfactory.
"Correspondences, and personal notes would be best. We need references for his patterns of speech. Once we determine the ciphers he's used, these patterns will help us pick out words or phrases. I assume he was well versed in more than a few languages as well. Whatever he might use for more studious work will likely feature." Leaving the journals to the side for the time being, He took a bit of parchment and a quill. Quickly, Enzo jotted down a number of ciphers, listing the most simple substitutions first. While he did not expect these to be used in any of the main writings, Enzo didn't dismiss the idea that they might be used in the code keys to further obscure the collected works. Such a strategy had been the bade of his unit's existence back before he'd left the military. It could make even a short message take ages to decipher.
"Simple substitutions are, well... too simple. But an algorithmic cipher seems like a good place to start." He scribbled a formula for one he knew well down onto the paper then held it up to show across the desk. But the gap was too wide, and they'd be doing examples as they continued. Enzo stood, a flick of his wrist lifting the heavy chair and skating it just over the ground until it plopped down next to where Tiberius sat.
"So here, x stands for the numeric value of the original letter..." he began as he settled back down into the chair.
It was a wonder to see him; a thrill to watch the world around him be altered by his presence. Books moved, dust disturbed, wine bottles emptying... all because Tiberius was here. Six years wasn't so long. Indeed, he had many friends he'd not seen for longer spells of time. Their visits to Minrathaus didn't alter reality in the same way. Enzo walked slowly into the tower, his eyes following as Tiberius moved about, collecting books and scrolls.
No, it wasn't the years. It was that, during those years, a not insignificant portion of his heart had been lost to him. He'd grieved for this man whose hands now shuffled journals aside to make room for another tome. He'd lost hope in ever seeing those hands again. He took three steps forward, prepared to wrap an arm around Tiberius' waist, to pull him against his own chest. To feel him breathing. But he stopped, swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed in his throat with a bit of the wine. Tiberius was engaged now.
Stepping around the desk, Enzo covered his near faux pas with a smile. Lowering himself dramatically down into the chair, he moved left and right a bit, ran his hands over the armrest as if appraising it and finding it satisfactory.
"Correspondences, and personal notes would be best. We need references for his patterns of speech. Once we determine the ciphers he's used, these patterns will help us pick out words or phrases. I assume he was well versed in more than a few languages as well. Whatever he might use for more studious work will likely feature." Leaving the journals to the side for the time being, He took a bit of parchment and a quill. Quickly, Enzo jotted down a number of ciphers, listing the most simple substitutions first. While he did not expect these to be used in any of the main writings, Enzo didn't dismiss the idea that they might be used in the code keys to further obscure the collected works. Such a strategy had been the bade of his unit's existence back before he'd left the military. It could make even a short message take ages to decipher.
"Simple substitutions are, well... too simple. But an algorithmic cipher seems like a good place to start." He scribbled a formula for one he knew well down onto the paper then held it up to show across the desk. But the gap was too wide, and they'd be doing examples as they continued. Enzo stood, a flick of his wrist lifting the heavy chair and skating it just over the ground until it plopped down next to where Tiberius sat.
"So here, x stands for the numeric value of the original letter..." he began as he settled back down into the chair.
05-26-2024, 08:26 PM
