The sun rose over the island, casting golden rays across the sand as Mia and Kei sat under the shade of their usual palm tree. Their notebooks, filled to the brim with intricate notes, diagrams, and calculations, were spread out before them. It was a treasure trove of knowledge, a record of months of experimentation and discoveries about Essence, their Laws, and the changing world.
Mia tapped the edge of her notebook thoughtfully. “Alright, techno prodigy,” she said with a smirk. “Time to upload everything onto a computer. These notes need to be digital.”
Kei leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. “You know, that’s a lot of work. And a lot of risk. What if someone hacks into it?”
Mia raised an eyebrow. “Hacks into it? Do you hear yourself? Who on Earth—or in existence—is going to crack your code? You’re the kid who out-coded a supercomputer with a laptop older than I am.”
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A TALE OF OLD MUSIC AND GENIUS
Kei chuckled, a nostalgic grin spreading across his face. “Oh, that old laptop. I still miss it sometimes.”
Mia tilted her head. “You mean the one you carried around like a security blanket? What was it about that thing anyway?”
Kei picked up a stick and began drawing idle patterns in the sand. “It wasn’t just a laptop. It was a time capsule. I found it in the attic of one of our estates, covered in dust. But when I booted it up—after a little tinkering, of course—it was like stepping into another world.”
He paused, his silver-grey eyes glinting with amusement. “It had all this old music on it. Stuff from decades ago. Michael Jackson, Queen, The Beatles. I got hooked. That laptop became my escape—until I accidentally out-coded our family’s state-of-the-art AI trying to make the thing faster.”
Mia laughed, shaking her head. “You accidentally out-coded a supercomputer. With an old laptop. Because you wanted to listen to Thriller on repeat.”
“Pretty much,” Kei said, shrugging. “And now you want me to store all our top-secret research on a computer?”
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DESIGNING A SECURE SYSTEM
Despite his protests, Kei knew Mia was right. Their research was too valuable to leave in physical form alone. Sitting cross-legged in the sand, he began sketching out a secure system in his notebook.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“Alright,” he said, his tone turning serious. “If we’re doing this, it has to be airtight. No one’s getting in, not even me unless I want to.”
Mia leaned over, curious. “What’s the plan?”
1. Multi-Layer Encryption:
“We’ll start with multi-layer encryption,” Kei explained. “Not just one passcode, but multiple layers, each with its own unique key. The keys will be stored in isolated memory clusters, so even if someone breaks one, they won’t get anywhere without the others.”
2. Resonance-Encoded Lock:
“Next, we use resonance,” Kei said, tapping his harp. “I can encode the system with a sound-based lock. The computer will only unlock if it hears a specific sequence of frequencies—frequencies that only I can produce.”
3. Balance Verification:
Kei glanced at Mia. “And for you, we’ll add a secondary verification system based on balance. The system will require a precise distribution of weight—like balancing a scale—before it grants access.”
Mia raised an eyebrow. “That’s... oddly poetic.”
Kei grinned. “I thought you’d like it.”
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THE WORK BEGINS
The two of them spent the day transferring their handwritten notes to digital files. Mia typed furiously, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she organized their research into neat categories. Kei worked alongside her, coding the secure system in real-time.
Occasionally, Mia would glance over his shoulder, watching as lines of code filled the screen. “You know,” she remarked, “this might be the most secure system on the planet.”
Kei smirked. “Not ‘might be.’ It is.”
Mia chuckled. “And to think, all this genius started with a dusty old laptop and a playlist of classics.”
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TESTING THE SYSTEM
By the time the sun set, the system was ready. Kei leaned back, stretching his arms as he admired their work. “Alright, let’s test it.”
He activated the computer, the screen glowing faintly. A soft hum filled the air as the resonance lock engaged. Kei strummed a specific sequence on his harp, and the system responded with a faint chime, unlocking the first layer.
Next, Mia approached the balance scale. She placed two identical stones on the trays, adjusting them until the scales leveled perfectly. The system emitted another chime, unlocking the second layer.
Finally, Kei entered the final passcode, a string of numbers and letters so complex it seemed almost random. The screen flickered, and their research files appeared, safe and sound.
Mia let out a low whistle. “I’m impressed. If anyone tries to hack this, they’ll be stuck for decades.”
Kei grinned. “Decades? Try centuries.”
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A MOMENT OF QUIET
As they packed up their notes and powered down the computer, Mia glanced at Kei, her expression softening. “You know, for all your goofing off, you really are a genius.”
Kei shrugged, his grin playful. “I try.”
Mia shook her head, laughing. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re stuck with me,” Kei replied, his tone light but warm.
As the waves crashed softly in the distance, the two of them sat in comfortable silence, their bond strengthened by another shared accomplishment. The world around them was changing, but together, they were ready for whatever came next.