The Cipher: Locks and Keys

Lockey stood outside his apartment, hands tucked into the pockets of his dark coat as the rain drizzled lightly, dampening the streets. His mind was already drifting to the address Lucien had given him, thoughts buzzing with skepticism and curiosity. It wasn’t the first time Glacier had made an unexpected request, and Lockey had learned not to trust that anything Glacier offered was straightforward.

As he approached the location, it became clear this was different from the last time. The tall, run-down building loomed in front of him, its broken windows and decaying structure giving off an eerie feeling. Lockey hesitated at the entrance, his eyes narrowing before stepping inside.

The abandoned building was dimly lit by flickering lights, casting long shadows that danced across the cracked walls. Dust swirled in the air as his boots crunched over the debris-littered floor. As Lockey moved deeper into the building, he saw a familiar figure leaning against a wall, cloaked in a black hooded cape.

Lucien, now fully illuminated by a faint light, smiled slyly. The black hood concealed much of her face, but her sharp features and calculating eyes were unmistakable.

"I'll lead the way," she said in a low voice, her tone lacking any real warmth. With a quick nod, she turned and began to lead him down a narrow corridor, her footsteps silent against the concrete floor.

They descended into the building's lower levels, navigating through an underground tunnel that twisted and turned, lit only by the occasional flickering bulb overhead. The deeper they went, the colder and more silent the space became, with the distant sound of dripping water echoing in the distance. Eventually, they reached a large, steel door at the end of the tunnel. Lucien knocked twice, and the door groaned open.

Inside, Glacier stood in the center of the room, his back turned to them as he observed something on the far wall. The moment Lockey entered, Glacier turned around, his face splitting into a smile that seemed to barely hide something darker.

"Knew you'd come," Glacier said with a grin, taking a step forward.

Lockey rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Get on with it."

Glacier’s smile faded, and his face became serious, as though flipping a switch. He walked toward Lockey, his presence filling the room with a commanding air. “I need you to steal a particular key, Lockey. It's called the Beta Vault, one of the 8 Universal Vaults.”

Lockey blinked, tilting his head slightly, confused by the abrupt shift in conversation. "Okaaayyyy…" he replied, drawing out the word in genuine confusion. “And why exactly should I steal this? And don’t tell me the reward is that I get to keep it.”

Glacier shook his head and sighed, walking to a nearby table and resting a hand on its surface. "Calm down. It’s not really stealing, more like retrieving. The Vault isn’t in anyone’s possession right now, but it will be soon. And trust me, I don’t want the wrong hands grabbing it first."

Lockey frowned, still not fully understanding. His curiosity got the better of him as he pressed on. “What’s this vault stuff anyway? What am I actually retrieving?”

Glacier's expression shifted to one of careful explanation. "There are three objects that give us power in this world, and they're all connected to the Cipher. The first one is the Key, which you already possess. The second one looks like a small Rubik's cube, but it's a Vault. And the last one is a Lock, which looks like a padlock. Each one has its own abilities.”

Lockey leaned back, raising an eyebrow. "So this Beta Vault is supposedly power itself?"

Glacier nodded. “Yes, but it's classified as a Universal Vault, which makes it far more powerful than your average Vault.”

As Glacier continued to explain, he dropped subtle hints, foreshadowing larger revelations. “There are only 20 Universal objects, Lockey, and only 10 are currently in possession of anyone. Among those 10, you and I already have one each.”

Lockey wasn’t particularly interested in the Vault’s history. His mind drifted to the next task at hand. “So, what else is there to know?”

Glacier smirked. “First off, the Vault is located in a place full of traps. Not just any traps, but ones designed to keep even the most skilled thieves out.”

He pulled out a map and unrolled it on the table, pointing to a remote location—The Cavern of Winds, an ancient cave system buried deep in a mountainous region. The caverns were notorious for their shifting passages, making it easy for those unfamiliar with the terrain to get lost forever.

“Due to the complexity of the traps, you’re going to need some help,” Glacier continued, looking up at Lockey.

Lockey raised an eyebrow, his arms still crossed. “And who’s supposed to help me?”

Just then, a voice echoed from the shadows. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

Lockey turned to see Pinnochi, his arms folded and an annoyed look plastered across her face. He stepped into the light, her irritation clear. “I never signed up for this, Glacier. Why do you keep dragging me into this mess?”

Glacier chuckled. “Because, Pinnochi, you’re the best at what you do. And let’s face it—you owe me.” He winked, but Pinnochi wasn’t amused.

Pinnochi groaned, rubbing his temples in frustration. "If the WCM finds out about this, I’m pretty much cooked. You know that, right?"

Glacier waved a hand dismissively. “No worries. No one will know, and that’s precisely why I need you on this job.”

Pinnochi rolled his eyes and shot a glare at Lockey. “You better not screw this up, Lockey.”

Lockey shrugged, glancing at the map. “So we’ll be traveling out, huh?”

Glacier nodded. “Yes, you’ll be heading to the Cavern of Winds. It's treacherous but the Beta Vault is hidden there.”

Lockey stared at the map for a moment before looking back up at Glacier. "Why don’t you just do this yourself?"

Glacier’s eyes darkened as he took a step toward Lockey, his voice dropping. “Because,” he said, his tone dead serious, “I have someone else to deal with.”

Pinnochi, who had been standing impatiently, finally let out a loud sigh. "Yeah, yeah, can we just get on with it? I can’t believe I’m spending my vacation like this." he shot Glacier a sharp look. "You owe me, Glacier."

Glacier chuckled, but there was a heaviness in the air that suggested more than just a simple favor was at play.