diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 2650333..5d6be57 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@
 /dist
 /pyaegis/build
 __pycache__
+!.gitignore
+!.gitmodules
diff --git a/pyaegis/_loader.py b/pyaegis/_loader.py
index f693e3f..381ac97 100644
--- a/pyaegis/_loader.py
+++ b/pyaegis/_loader.py
@@ -1,33 +1,13 @@
-"""Dynamic loader for libaegis using CFFI (ABI mode).
-
-This module loads the shared library bundled with the package.
-
-Exports:
-- ffi: a cffi.FFI instance with the libaegis API declared
-- lib: the loaded libaegis shared library (ffi.dlopen)
-- libc: the C runtime (for posix_memalign/free on POSIX)
-- alloc_aligned(size, alignment): return (void*) pointer with requested alignment
-"""
+"""Dynamic loader for libaegis using CFFI (ABI mode)."""
 
 import os
 import sys
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
 from cffi import FFI
 
-ffi = FFI()
-
-# Load CFFI cdef declarations from text file
-cdef_path = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "build", "aegis_cdef.h")
-with open(cdef_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
-    cdef_content = f.read()
-ffi.cdef(cdef_content)
-
-try:
-    # ctypes is only used to resolve libc reliably across platforms
-    import ctypes.util as _ctypes_util  # type: ignore
-except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - very unlikely to happen
-    _ctypes_util = None  # type: ignore[assignment]
+__ALL__ = ["ffi", "lib"]
 
 
 def _platform_lib_name() -> str:
@@ -39,52 +19,18 @@ def _platform_lib_name() -> str:
 
 
 def _load_libaegis():
-    pkg_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
-    candidate = os.path.join(pkg_dir, "build", _platform_lib_name())
-    if os.path.exists(candidate):
+    pkg_dir = Path(__file__).parent
+    candidate = pkg_dir / "build" / _platform_lib_name()
+    if candidate.exists():
         try:
-            return ffi.dlopen(candidate)
+            return ffi.dlopen(str(candidate))
         except Exception as e:
             raise OSError(f"Failed to load libaegis from {candidate}: {e}")
     else:
         raise OSError(f"Could not find libaegis at {candidate}")
 
 
-def _load_libc():
-    # Use ctypes.util to find a usable libc name; fallback to None-dlopen on POSIX
-    if _ctypes_util is not None:
-        libc_name = _ctypes_util.find_library("c")  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
-        if libc_name:
-            try:
-                return ffi.dlopen(libc_name)
-            except Exception:
-                pass
-    # Fallback: try process globals (works on many Unix platforms)
-    try:
-        return ffi.dlopen(None)
-    except Exception as e:
-        raise OSError(f"Unable to load libc for aligned allocation: {e}")
-
-
+ffi = FFI()
+ffi.cdef(Path(__file__).with_name("aegis_cdef.h").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
 lib: Any = _load_libaegis()
-libc: Any = _load_libc()
-
-# Initialize CPU feature selection (recommended by the library)
-try:
-    lib.aegis_init()
-except Exception:
-    # Non-fatal; functions will still work, maybe slower
-    pass
-
-
-def alloc_aligned(size: int, alignment: int = 64):
-    """Allocate aligned memory via posix_memalign(); returns a void* cdata.
-
-    The returned pointer must be freed with libc.free(). Attach a GC finalizer
-    at call sites using ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free) after casting to the target type.
-    """
-    memptr = ffi.new("void **")
-    rc = libc.posix_memalign(memptr, alignment, size)
-    if rc != 0 or memptr[0] == ffi.NULL:
-        raise MemoryError(f"posix_memalign({alignment}, {size}) failed with rc={rc}")
-    return memptr[0]
+lib.aegis_init()
diff --git a/pyaegis/aegis128l.py b/pyaegis/aegis128l.py
index 75ba565..1383976 100644
--- a/pyaegis/aegis128l.py
+++ b/pyaegis/aegis128l.py
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ Error return codes from the C library raise ValueError.
 import errno
 from collections.abc import Buffer
 
-from ._loader import alloc_aligned, ffi, libc
+from ._loader import ffi
 from ._loader import lib as _lib
+from .util import new_aligned_struct
 
 # Constants exposed as functions in C; mirror them as integers at module import time
 KEYBYTES = _lib.aegis128l_keybytes()
@@ -445,7 +446,7 @@ class Mac:
         mac2 = Mac(key, nonce); mac2.update(data); mac2.verify(tag)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_nonce", "_key")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -462,19 +463,19 @@ class Mac:
         Raises:
             TypeError: If key or nonce lengths are invalid.
         """
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128l_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis128l_mac_state *", raw)
-        self._st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
-        if _other is not None:
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis128l_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
+        self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
+        if _other is not None:  # clone path
             _lib.aegis128l_mac_state_clone(self._st, _other._st)
             return
-        # Normal init
+        # Normal init path
         nonce = memoryview(nonce)
         key = memoryview(key)
         if key.nbytes != KEYBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
         _lib.aegis128l_mac_init(self._st, _ptr(key), _ptr(nonce))
 
     def __deepcopy__(self) -> "Mac":
@@ -565,7 +566,7 @@ class Encryptor:
     - final_detached([ct_into], [mac_into], maclen=16) -> returns (tail_bytes, mac)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental encryptor.
@@ -584,9 +585,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128l_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis128l_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis128l_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis128l_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -595,6 +594,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total plaintext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ class Decryptor:
     - final(mac[, into]) -> returns any remaining plaintext bytes
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental decryptor for detached tags.
@@ -765,9 +765,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128l_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis128l_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis128l_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis128l_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -776,6 +774,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total ciphertext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -873,21 +872,13 @@ class Decryptor:
 
 
 def new_state():
-    """Allocate and return a new aegis128l_state* with proper alignment.
-
-    The returned object is an ffi cdata pointer with automatic finalizer.
-    """
-    # Allocate with required alignment using libc.posix_memalign
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128l_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis128l_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    """Allocate and return a new aegis128l_state* with proper alignment."""
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis128l_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 def new_mac_state():
     """Allocate and return a new aegis128l_mac_state* with proper alignment."""
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128l_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis128l_mac_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis128l_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 __all__ = [
diff --git a/pyaegis/aegis128x2.py b/pyaegis/aegis128x2.py
index 4a71cbf..d72eafe 100644
--- a/pyaegis/aegis128x2.py
+++ b/pyaegis/aegis128x2.py
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ Error return codes from the C library raise ValueError.
 import errno
 from collections.abc import Buffer
 
-from ._loader import alloc_aligned, ffi, libc
+from ._loader import ffi
 from ._loader import lib as _lib
+from .util import new_aligned_struct
 
 # Constants exposed as functions in C; mirror them as integers at module import time
 KEYBYTES = _lib.aegis128x2_keybytes()
@@ -445,7 +446,7 @@ class Mac:
         mac2 = Mac(key, nonce); mac2.update(data); mac2.verify(tag)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_nonce", "_key")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -462,19 +463,19 @@ class Mac:
         Raises:
             TypeError: If key or nonce lengths are invalid.
         """
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128x2_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis128x2_mac_state *", raw)
-        self._st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
-        if _other is not None:
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis128x2_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
+        self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
+        if _other is not None:  # clone path
             _lib.aegis128x2_mac_state_clone(self._st, _other._st)
             return
-        # Normal init
+        # Normal init path
         nonce = memoryview(nonce)
         key = memoryview(key)
         if key.nbytes != KEYBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
         _lib.aegis128x2_mac_init(self._st, _ptr(key), _ptr(nonce))
 
     def __deepcopy__(self) -> "Mac":
@@ -565,7 +566,7 @@ class Encryptor:
     - final_detached([ct_into], [mac_into], maclen=16) -> returns (tail_bytes, mac)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental encryptor.
@@ -584,9 +585,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128x2_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis128x2_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis128x2_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis128x2_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -595,6 +594,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total plaintext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ class Decryptor:
     - final(mac[, into]) -> returns any remaining plaintext bytes
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental decryptor for detached tags.
@@ -765,9 +765,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128x2_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis128x2_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis128x2_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis128x2_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -776,6 +774,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total ciphertext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -873,21 +872,13 @@ class Decryptor:
 
 
 def new_state():
-    """Allocate and return a new aegis128x2_state* with proper alignment.
-
-    The returned object is an ffi cdata pointer with automatic finalizer.
-    """
-    # Allocate with required alignment using libc.posix_memalign
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128x2_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis128x2_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    """Allocate and return a new aegis128x2_state* with proper alignment."""
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis128x2_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 def new_mac_state():
     """Allocate and return a new aegis128x2_mac_state* with proper alignment."""
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128x2_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis128x2_mac_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis128x2_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 __all__ = [
diff --git a/pyaegis/aegis128x4.py b/pyaegis/aegis128x4.py
index 583802c..01b949b 100644
--- a/pyaegis/aegis128x4.py
+++ b/pyaegis/aegis128x4.py
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ Error return codes from the C library raise ValueError.
 import errno
 from collections.abc import Buffer
 
-from ._loader import alloc_aligned, ffi, libc
+from ._loader import ffi
 from ._loader import lib as _lib
+from .util import new_aligned_struct
 
 # Constants exposed as functions in C; mirror them as integers at module import time
 KEYBYTES = _lib.aegis128x4_keybytes()
@@ -445,7 +446,7 @@ class Mac:
         mac2 = Mac(key, nonce); mac2.update(data); mac2.verify(tag)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_nonce", "_key")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -462,19 +463,19 @@ class Mac:
         Raises:
             TypeError: If key or nonce lengths are invalid.
         """
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128x4_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis128x4_mac_state *", raw)
-        self._st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
-        if _other is not None:
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis128x4_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
+        self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
+        if _other is not None:  # clone path
             _lib.aegis128x4_mac_state_clone(self._st, _other._st)
             return
-        # Normal init
+        # Normal init path
         nonce = memoryview(nonce)
         key = memoryview(key)
         if key.nbytes != KEYBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
         _lib.aegis128x4_mac_init(self._st, _ptr(key), _ptr(nonce))
 
     def __deepcopy__(self) -> "Mac":
@@ -565,7 +566,7 @@ class Encryptor:
     - final_detached([ct_into], [mac_into], maclen=16) -> returns (tail_bytes, mac)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental encryptor.
@@ -584,9 +585,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128x4_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis128x4_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis128x4_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis128x4_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -595,6 +594,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total plaintext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ class Decryptor:
     - final(mac[, into]) -> returns any remaining plaintext bytes
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental decryptor for detached tags.
@@ -765,9 +765,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128x4_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis128x4_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis128x4_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis128x4_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -776,6 +774,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total ciphertext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -873,21 +872,13 @@ class Decryptor:
 
 
 def new_state():
-    """Allocate and return a new aegis128x4_state* with proper alignment.
-
-    The returned object is an ffi cdata pointer with automatic finalizer.
-    """
-    # Allocate with required alignment using libc.posix_memalign
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128x4_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis128x4_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    """Allocate and return a new aegis128x4_state* with proper alignment."""
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis128x4_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 def new_mac_state():
     """Allocate and return a new aegis128x4_mac_state* with proper alignment."""
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis128x4_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis128x4_mac_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis128x4_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 __all__ = [
diff --git a/pyaegis/aegis256.py b/pyaegis/aegis256.py
index bb30b61..7813da5 100644
--- a/pyaegis/aegis256.py
+++ b/pyaegis/aegis256.py
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ Error return codes from the C library raise ValueError.
 import errno
 from collections.abc import Buffer
 
-from ._loader import alloc_aligned, ffi, libc
+from ._loader import ffi
 from ._loader import lib as _lib
+from .util import new_aligned_struct
 
 # Constants exposed as functions in C; mirror them as integers at module import time
 KEYBYTES = _lib.aegis256_keybytes()
@@ -445,7 +446,7 @@ class Mac:
         mac2 = Mac(key, nonce); mac2.update(data); mac2.verify(tag)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_nonce", "_key")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -462,19 +463,19 @@ class Mac:
         Raises:
             TypeError: If key or nonce lengths are invalid.
         """
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis256_mac_state *", raw)
-        self._st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
-        if _other is not None:
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis256_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
+        self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
+        if _other is not None:  # clone path
             _lib.aegis256_mac_state_clone(self._st, _other._st)
             return
-        # Normal init
+        # Normal init path
         nonce = memoryview(nonce)
         key = memoryview(key)
         if key.nbytes != KEYBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
         _lib.aegis256_mac_init(self._st, _ptr(key), _ptr(nonce))
 
     def __deepcopy__(self) -> "Mac":
@@ -565,7 +566,7 @@ class Encryptor:
     - final_detached([ct_into], [mac_into], maclen=16) -> returns (tail_bytes, mac)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental encryptor.
@@ -584,9 +585,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis256_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis256_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis256_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -595,6 +594,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total plaintext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ class Decryptor:
     - final(mac[, into]) -> returns any remaining plaintext bytes
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental decryptor for detached tags.
@@ -765,9 +765,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis256_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis256_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis256_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -776,6 +774,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total ciphertext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -873,21 +872,13 @@ class Decryptor:
 
 
 def new_state():
-    """Allocate and return a new aegis256_state* with proper alignment.
-
-    The returned object is an ffi cdata pointer with automatic finalizer.
-    """
-    # Allocate with required alignment using libc.posix_memalign
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis256_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    """Allocate and return a new aegis256_state* with proper alignment."""
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis256_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 def new_mac_state():
     """Allocate and return a new aegis256_mac_state* with proper alignment."""
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis256_mac_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis256_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 __all__ = [
diff --git a/pyaegis/aegis256x2.py b/pyaegis/aegis256x2.py
index b5653d1..7ab4ba8 100644
--- a/pyaegis/aegis256x2.py
+++ b/pyaegis/aegis256x2.py
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ Error return codes from the C library raise ValueError.
 import errno
 from collections.abc import Buffer
 
-from ._loader import alloc_aligned, ffi, libc
+from ._loader import ffi
 from ._loader import lib as _lib
+from .util import new_aligned_struct
 
 # Constants exposed as functions in C; mirror them as integers at module import time
 KEYBYTES = _lib.aegis256x2_keybytes()
@@ -445,7 +446,7 @@ class Mac:
         mac2 = Mac(key, nonce); mac2.update(data); mac2.verify(tag)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_nonce", "_key")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -462,19 +463,19 @@ class Mac:
         Raises:
             TypeError: If key or nonce lengths are invalid.
         """
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256x2_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis256x2_mac_state *", raw)
-        self._st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
-        if _other is not None:
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis256x2_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
+        self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
+        if _other is not None:  # clone path
             _lib.aegis256x2_mac_state_clone(self._st, _other._st)
             return
-        # Normal init
+        # Normal init path
         nonce = memoryview(nonce)
         key = memoryview(key)
         if key.nbytes != KEYBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
         _lib.aegis256x2_mac_init(self._st, _ptr(key), _ptr(nonce))
 
     def __deepcopy__(self) -> "Mac":
@@ -565,7 +566,7 @@ class Encryptor:
     - final_detached([ct_into], [mac_into], maclen=16) -> returns (tail_bytes, mac)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental encryptor.
@@ -584,9 +585,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256x2_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis256x2_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis256x2_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis256x2_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -595,6 +594,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total plaintext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ class Decryptor:
     - final(mac[, into]) -> returns any remaining plaintext bytes
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental decryptor for detached tags.
@@ -765,9 +765,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256x2_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis256x2_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis256x2_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis256x2_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -776,6 +774,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total ciphertext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -873,21 +872,13 @@ class Decryptor:
 
 
 def new_state():
-    """Allocate and return a new aegis256x2_state* with proper alignment.
-
-    The returned object is an ffi cdata pointer with automatic finalizer.
-    """
-    # Allocate with required alignment using libc.posix_memalign
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256x2_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis256x2_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    """Allocate and return a new aegis256x2_state* with proper alignment."""
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis256x2_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 def new_mac_state():
     """Allocate and return a new aegis256x2_mac_state* with proper alignment."""
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256x2_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis256x2_mac_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis256x2_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 __all__ = [
diff --git a/pyaegis/aegis256x4.py b/pyaegis/aegis256x4.py
index c9bcc1a..86f5633 100644
--- a/pyaegis/aegis256x4.py
+++ b/pyaegis/aegis256x4.py
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ Error return codes from the C library raise ValueError.
 import errno
 from collections.abc import Buffer
 
-from ._loader import alloc_aligned, ffi, libc
+from ._loader import ffi
 from ._loader import lib as _lib
+from .util import new_aligned_struct
 
 # Constants exposed as functions in C; mirror them as integers at module import time
 KEYBYTES = _lib.aegis256x4_keybytes()
@@ -445,7 +446,7 @@ class Mac:
         mac2 = Mac(key, nonce); mac2.update(data); mac2.verify(tag)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_nonce", "_key")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -462,19 +463,19 @@ class Mac:
         Raises:
             TypeError: If key or nonce lengths are invalid.
         """
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256x4_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis256x4_mac_state *", raw)
-        self._st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
-        if _other is not None:
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis256x4_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
+        self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
+        if _other is not None:  # clone path
             _lib.aegis256x4_mac_state_clone(self._st, _other._st)
             return
-        # Normal init
+        # Normal init path
         nonce = memoryview(nonce)
         key = memoryview(key)
         if key.nbytes != KEYBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
-            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES=}")
+            raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
         _lib.aegis256x4_mac_init(self._st, _ptr(key), _ptr(nonce))
 
     def __deepcopy__(self) -> "Mac":
@@ -565,7 +566,7 @@ class Encryptor:
     - final_detached([ct_into], [mac_into], maclen=16) -> returns (tail_bytes, mac)
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental encryptor.
@@ -584,9 +585,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256x4_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis256x4_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis256x4_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis256x4_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -595,6 +594,7 @@ class Encryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total plaintext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ class Decryptor:
     - final(mac[, into]) -> returns any remaining plaintext bytes
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_st", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
+    __slots__ = ("_st", "_owner", "_bytes_in", "_bytes_out")
 
     def __init__(self, key: Buffer, nonce: Buffer, ad: Buffer | None = None):
         """Create an incremental decryptor for detached tags.
@@ -765,9 +765,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             raise TypeError(f"key length must be {KEYBYTES}")
         if nonce.nbytes != NPUBBYTES:
             raise TypeError(f"nonce length must be {NPUBBYTES}")
-        raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256x4_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-        st = ffi.cast("aegis256x4_state *", raw)
-        st = ffi.gc(st, libc.free)
+        st, owner = new_aligned_struct("aegis256x4_state", ALIGNMENT)
         _lib.aegis256x4_state_init(
             st,
             _ptr(ad) if ad is not None else ffi.NULL,
@@ -776,6 +774,7 @@ class Decryptor:
             _ptr(key),
         )
         self._st = st
+        self._owner = owner
         # Track total ciphertext bytes passed through update() so far
         self._bytes_in = 0
         self._bytes_out = 0
@@ -873,21 +872,13 @@ class Decryptor:
 
 
 def new_state():
-    """Allocate and return a new aegis256x4_state* with proper alignment.
-
-    The returned object is an ffi cdata pointer with automatic finalizer.
-    """
-    # Allocate with required alignment using libc.posix_memalign
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256x4_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis256x4_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    """Allocate and return a new aegis256x4_state* with proper alignment."""
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis256x4_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 def new_mac_state():
     """Allocate and return a new aegis256x4_mac_state* with proper alignment."""
-    raw = alloc_aligned(ffi.sizeof("aegis256x4_mac_state"), ALIGNMENT)
-    ptr = ffi.cast("aegis256x4_mac_state *", raw)
-    return ffi.gc(ptr, libc.free)
+    return new_aligned_struct("aegis256x4_mac_state", ALIGNMENT)
 
 
 __all__ = [
diff --git a/pyaegis/aegis_cdef.h b/pyaegis/aegis_cdef.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e3cd4f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyaegis/aegis_cdef.h
@@ -0,0 +1,571 @@
+typedef unsigned char uint8_t;
+typedef unsigned long size_t;
+
+/* aegis.h */
+int aegis_init(void);
+int aegis_verify_16(const uint8_t *x, const uint8_t *y) ;
+int aegis_verify_32(const uint8_t *x, const uint8_t *y) ;
+
+/* aegis128l.h */
+typedef struct aegis128l_state { uint8_t opaque[256]; } aegis128l_state;
+typedef struct aegis128l_mac_state { uint8_t opaque[384]; } aegis128l_mac_state;
+size_t aegis128l_keybytes(void);
+size_t aegis128l_npubbytes(void);
+size_t aegis128l_abytes_min(void);
+size_t aegis128l_abytes_max(void);
+size_t aegis128l_tailbytes_max(void);
+int aegis128l_encrypt_detached(uint8_t *c,
+                               uint8_t *mac,
+                               size_t maclen,
+                               const uint8_t *m,
+                               size_t mlen,
+                               const uint8_t *ad,
+                               size_t adlen,
+                               const uint8_t *npub,
+                               const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis128l_decrypt_detached(uint8_t *m,
+                               const uint8_t *c,
+                               size_t clen,
+                               const uint8_t *mac,
+                               size_t maclen,
+                               const uint8_t *ad,
+                               size_t adlen,
+                               const uint8_t *npub,
+                               const uint8_t *k) ;
+int aegis128l_encrypt(uint8_t *c,
+                      size_t maclen,
+                      const uint8_t *m,
+                      size_t mlen,
+                      const uint8_t *ad,
+                      size_t adlen,
+                      const uint8_t *npub,
+                      const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis128l_decrypt(uint8_t *m,
+                      const uint8_t *c,
+                      size_t clen,
+                      size_t maclen,
+                      const uint8_t *ad,
+                      size_t adlen,
+                      const uint8_t *npub,
+                      const uint8_t *k) ;
+void aegis128l_state_init(aegis128l_state *st_,
+                          const uint8_t *ad,
+                          size_t adlen,
+                          const uint8_t *npub,
+                          const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis128l_state_encrypt_update(aegis128l_state *st_,
+                                   uint8_t *c,
+                                   size_t clen_max,
+                                   size_t *written,
+                                   const uint8_t *m,
+                                   size_t mlen);
+int aegis128l_state_encrypt_detached_final(aegis128l_state *st_,
+                                           uint8_t *c,
+                                           size_t clen_max,
+                                           size_t *written,
+                                           uint8_t *mac,
+                                           size_t maclen);
+int aegis128l_state_encrypt_final(aegis128l_state *st_,
+                                  uint8_t *c,
+                                  size_t clen_max,
+                                  size_t *written,
+                                  size_t maclen);
+int aegis128l_state_decrypt_detached_update(aegis128l_state *st_,
+                                            uint8_t *m,
+                                            size_t mlen_max,
+                                            size_t *written,
+                                            const uint8_t *c,
+                                            size_t clen) ;
+int aegis128l_state_decrypt_detached_final(aegis128l_state *st_,
+                                           uint8_t *m,
+                                           size_t mlen_max,
+                                           size_t *written,
+                                           const uint8_t *mac,
+                                           size_t maclen) ;
+void aegis128l_stream(uint8_t *out, size_t len, const uint8_t *npub, const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis128l_encrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *c,
+                                       const uint8_t *m,
+                                       size_t mlen,
+                                       const uint8_t *npub,
+                                       const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis128l_decrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *m,
+                                       const uint8_t *c,
+                                       size_t clen,
+                                       const uint8_t *npub,
+                                       const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis128l_mac_init(aegis128l_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *k, const uint8_t *npub);
+int aegis128l_mac_update(aegis128l_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *m, size_t mlen);
+int aegis128l_mac_final(aegis128l_mac_state *st_, uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+int aegis128l_mac_verify(aegis128l_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+void aegis128l_mac_reset(aegis128l_mac_state *st_);
+void aegis128l_mac_state_clone(aegis128l_mac_state *dst, const aegis128l_mac_state *src);
+
+/* aegis128x2.h */
+typedef struct aegis128x2_state { uint8_t opaque[448]; } aegis128x2_state;
+typedef struct aegis128x2_mac_state { uint8_t opaque[704]; } aegis128x2_mac_state;
+size_t aegis128x2_keybytes(void);
+size_t aegis128x2_npubbytes(void);
+size_t aegis128x2_abytes_min(void);
+size_t aegis128x2_abytes_max(void);
+size_t aegis128x2_tailbytes_max(void);
+int aegis128x2_encrypt_detached(uint8_t *c,
+                                uint8_t *mac,
+                                size_t maclen,
+                                const uint8_t *m,
+                                size_t mlen,
+                                const uint8_t *ad,
+                                size_t adlen,
+                                const uint8_t *npub,
+                                const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis128x2_decrypt_detached(uint8_t *m,
+                                const uint8_t *c,
+                                size_t clen,
+                                const uint8_t *mac,
+                                size_t maclen,
+                                const uint8_t *ad,
+                                size_t adlen,
+                                const uint8_t *npub,
+                                const uint8_t *k) ;
+int aegis128x2_encrypt(uint8_t *c,
+                       size_t maclen,
+                       const uint8_t *m,
+                       size_t mlen,
+                       const uint8_t *ad,
+                       size_t adlen,
+                       const uint8_t *npub,
+                       const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis128x2_decrypt(uint8_t *m,
+                       const uint8_t *c,
+                       size_t clen,
+                       size_t maclen,
+                       const uint8_t *ad,
+                       size_t adlen,
+                       const uint8_t *npub,
+                       const uint8_t *k) ;
+void aegis128x2_state_init(aegis128x2_state *st_,
+                           const uint8_t *ad,
+                           size_t adlen,
+                           const uint8_t *npub,
+                           const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis128x2_state_encrypt_update(aegis128x2_state *st_,
+                                    uint8_t *c,
+                                    size_t clen_max,
+                                    size_t *written,
+                                    const uint8_t *m,
+                                    size_t mlen);
+int aegis128x2_state_encrypt_detached_final(aegis128x2_state *st_,
+                                            uint8_t *c,
+                                            size_t clen_max,
+                                            size_t *written,
+                                            uint8_t *mac,
+                                            size_t maclen);
+int aegis128x2_state_encrypt_final(aegis128x2_state *st_,
+                                   uint8_t *c,
+                                   size_t clen_max,
+                                   size_t *written,
+                                   size_t maclen);
+int aegis128x2_state_decrypt_detached_update(aegis128x2_state *st_,
+                                             uint8_t *m,
+                                             size_t mlen_max,
+                                             size_t *written,
+                                             const uint8_t *c,
+                                             size_t clen) ;
+int aegis128x2_state_decrypt_detached_final(aegis128x2_state *st_,
+                                            uint8_t *m,
+                                            size_t mlen_max,
+                                            size_t *written,
+                                            const uint8_t *mac,
+                                            size_t maclen) ;
+void aegis128x2_stream(uint8_t *out, size_t len, const uint8_t *npub, const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis128x2_encrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *c,
+                                        const uint8_t *m,
+                                        size_t mlen,
+                                        const uint8_t *npub,
+                                        const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis128x2_decrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *m,
+                                        const uint8_t *c,
+                                        size_t clen,
+                                        const uint8_t *npub,
+                                        const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis128x2_mac_init(aegis128x2_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *k, const uint8_t *npub);
+int aegis128x2_mac_update(aegis128x2_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *m, size_t mlen);
+int aegis128x2_mac_final(aegis128x2_mac_state *st_, uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+int aegis128x2_mac_verify(aegis128x2_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+void aegis128x2_mac_reset(aegis128x2_mac_state *st_);
+void aegis128x2_mac_state_clone(aegis128x2_mac_state *dst, const aegis128x2_mac_state *src);
+
+/* aegis128x4.h */
+typedef struct aegis128x4_state { uint8_t opaque[832]; } aegis128x4_state;
+typedef struct aegis128x4_mac_state { uint8_t opaque[1344]; } aegis128x4_mac_state;
+size_t aegis128x4_keybytes(void);
+size_t aegis128x4_npubbytes(void);
+size_t aegis128x4_abytes_min(void);
+size_t aegis128x4_abytes_max(void);
+size_t aegis128x4_tailbytes_max(void);
+int aegis128x4_encrypt_detached(uint8_t *c,
+                                uint8_t *mac,
+                                size_t maclen,
+                                const uint8_t *m,
+                                size_t mlen,
+                                const uint8_t *ad,
+                                size_t adlen,
+                                const uint8_t *npub,
+                                const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis128x4_decrypt_detached(uint8_t *m,
+                                const uint8_t *c,
+                                size_t clen,
+                                const uint8_t *mac,
+                                size_t maclen,
+                                const uint8_t *ad,
+                                size_t adlen,
+                                const uint8_t *npub,
+                                const uint8_t *k) ;
+int aegis128x4_encrypt(uint8_t *c,
+                       size_t maclen,
+                       const uint8_t *m,
+                       size_t mlen,
+                       const uint8_t *ad,
+                       size_t adlen,
+                       const uint8_t *npub,
+                       const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis128x4_decrypt(uint8_t *m,
+                       const uint8_t *c,
+                       size_t clen,
+                       size_t maclen,
+                       const uint8_t *ad,
+                       size_t adlen,
+                       const uint8_t *npub,
+                       const uint8_t *k) ;
+void aegis128x4_state_init(aegis128x4_state *st_,
+                           const uint8_t *ad,
+                           size_t adlen,
+                           const uint8_t *npub,
+                           const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis128x4_state_encrypt_update(aegis128x4_state *st_,
+                                    uint8_t *c,
+                                    size_t clen_max,
+                                    size_t *written,
+                                    const uint8_t *m,
+                                    size_t mlen);
+int aegis128x4_state_encrypt_detached_final(aegis128x4_state *st_,
+                                            uint8_t *c,
+                                            size_t clen_max,
+                                            size_t *written,
+                                            uint8_t *mac,
+                                            size_t maclen);
+int aegis128x4_state_encrypt_final(aegis128x4_state *st_,
+                                   uint8_t *c,
+                                   size_t clen_max,
+                                   size_t *written,
+                                   size_t maclen);
+int aegis128x4_state_decrypt_detached_update(aegis128x4_state *st_,
+                                             uint8_t *m,
+                                             size_t mlen_max,
+                                             size_t *written,
+                                             const uint8_t *c,
+                                             size_t clen) ;
+int aegis128x4_state_decrypt_detached_final(aegis128x4_state *st_,
+                                            uint8_t *m,
+                                            size_t mlen_max,
+                                            size_t *written,
+                                            const uint8_t *mac,
+                                            size_t maclen) ;
+void aegis128x4_stream(uint8_t *out, size_t len, const uint8_t *npub, const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis128x4_encrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *c,
+                                        const uint8_t *m,
+                                        size_t mlen,
+                                        const uint8_t *npub,
+                                        const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis128x4_decrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *m,
+                                        const uint8_t *c,
+                                        size_t clen,
+                                        const uint8_t *npub,
+                                        const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis128x4_mac_init(aegis128x4_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *k, const uint8_t *npub);
+int aegis128x4_mac_update(aegis128x4_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *m, size_t mlen);
+int aegis128x4_mac_final(aegis128x4_mac_state *st_, uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+int aegis128x4_mac_verify(aegis128x4_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+void aegis128x4_mac_reset(aegis128x4_mac_state *st_);
+void aegis128x4_mac_state_clone(aegis128x4_mac_state *dst, const aegis128x4_mac_state *src);
+
+/* aegis256.h */
+typedef struct aegis256_state { uint8_t opaque[192]; } aegis256_state;
+typedef struct aegis256_mac_state { uint8_t opaque[288]; } aegis256_mac_state;
+size_t aegis256_keybytes(void);
+size_t aegis256_npubbytes(void);
+size_t aegis256_abytes_min(void);
+size_t aegis256_abytes_max(void);
+size_t aegis256_tailbytes_max(void);
+int aegis256_encrypt_detached(uint8_t *c,
+                              uint8_t *mac,
+                              size_t maclen,
+                              const uint8_t *m,
+                              size_t mlen,
+                              const uint8_t *ad,
+                              size_t adlen,
+                              const uint8_t *npub,
+                              const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis256_decrypt_detached(uint8_t *m,
+                              const uint8_t *c,
+                              size_t clen,
+                              const uint8_t *mac,
+                              size_t maclen,
+                              const uint8_t *ad,
+                              size_t adlen,
+                              const uint8_t *npub,
+                              const uint8_t *k) ;
+int aegis256_encrypt(uint8_t *c,
+                     size_t maclen,
+                     const uint8_t *m,
+                     size_t mlen,
+                     const uint8_t *ad,
+                     size_t adlen,
+                     const uint8_t *npub,
+                     const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis256_decrypt(uint8_t *m,
+                     const uint8_t *c,
+                     size_t clen,
+                     size_t maclen,
+                     const uint8_t *ad,
+                     size_t adlen,
+                     const uint8_t *npub,
+                     const uint8_t *k) ;
+void aegis256_state_init(aegis256_state *st_,
+                         const uint8_t *ad,
+                         size_t adlen,
+                         const uint8_t *npub,
+                         const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis256_state_encrypt_update(aegis256_state *st_,
+                                  uint8_t *c,
+                                  size_t clen_max,
+                                  size_t *written,
+                                  const uint8_t *m,
+                                  size_t mlen);
+int aegis256_state_encrypt_detached_final(aegis256_state *st_,
+                                          uint8_t *c,
+                                          size_t clen_max,
+                                          size_t *written,
+                                          uint8_t *mac,
+                                          size_t maclen);
+int aegis256_state_encrypt_final(aegis256_state *st_,
+                                 uint8_t *c,
+                                 size_t clen_max,
+                                 size_t *written,
+                                 size_t maclen);
+int aegis256_state_decrypt_detached_update(aegis256_state *st_,
+                                           uint8_t *m,
+                                           size_t mlen_max,
+                                           size_t *written,
+                                           const uint8_t *c,
+                                           size_t clen) ;
+int aegis256_state_decrypt_detached_final(aegis256_state *st_,
+                                          uint8_t *m,
+                                          size_t mlen_max,
+                                          size_t *written,
+                                          const uint8_t *mac,
+                                          size_t maclen) ;
+void aegis256_stream(uint8_t *out, size_t len, const uint8_t *npub, const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis256_encrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *c,
+                                      const uint8_t *m,
+                                      size_t mlen,
+                                      const uint8_t *npub,
+                                      const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis256_decrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *m,
+                                      const uint8_t *c,
+                                      size_t clen,
+                                      const uint8_t *npub,
+                                      const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis256_mac_init(aegis256_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *k, const uint8_t *npub);
+int aegis256_mac_update(aegis256_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *m, size_t mlen);
+int aegis256_mac_final(aegis256_mac_state *st_, uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+int aegis256_mac_verify(aegis256_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+void aegis256_mac_reset(aegis256_mac_state *st_);
+void aegis256_mac_state_clone(aegis256_mac_state *dst, const aegis256_mac_state *src);
+
+/* aegis256x2.h */
+typedef struct aegis256x2_state { uint8_t opaque[320]; } aegis256x2_state;
+typedef struct aegis256x2_mac_state { uint8_t opaque[512]; } aegis256x2_mac_state;
+size_t aegis256x2_keybytes(void);
+size_t aegis256x2_npubbytes(void);
+size_t aegis256x2_abytes_min(void);
+size_t aegis256x2_abytes_max(void);
+size_t aegis256x2_tailbytes_max(void);
+int aegis256x2_encrypt_detached(uint8_t *c,
+                                uint8_t *mac,
+                                size_t maclen,
+                                const uint8_t *m,
+                                size_t mlen,
+                                const uint8_t *ad,
+                                size_t adlen,
+                                const uint8_t *npub,
+                                const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis256x2_decrypt_detached(uint8_t *m,
+                                const uint8_t *c,
+                                size_t clen,
+                                const uint8_t *mac,
+                                size_t maclen,
+                                const uint8_t *ad,
+                                size_t adlen,
+                                const uint8_t *npub,
+                                const uint8_t *k) ;
+int aegis256x2_encrypt(uint8_t *c,
+                       size_t maclen,
+                       const uint8_t *m,
+                       size_t mlen,
+                       const uint8_t *ad,
+                       size_t adlen,
+                       const uint8_t *npub,
+                       const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis256x2_decrypt(uint8_t *m,
+                       const uint8_t *c,
+                       size_t clen,
+                       size_t maclen,
+                       const uint8_t *ad,
+                       size_t adlen,
+                       const uint8_t *npub,
+                       const uint8_t *k) ;
+void aegis256x2_state_init(aegis256x2_state *st_,
+                           const uint8_t *ad,
+                           size_t adlen,
+                           const uint8_t *npub,
+                           const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis256x2_state_encrypt_update(aegis256x2_state *st_,
+                                    uint8_t *c,
+                                    size_t clen_max,
+                                    size_t *written,
+                                    const uint8_t *m,
+                                    size_t mlen);
+int aegis256x2_state_encrypt_detached_final(aegis256x2_state *st_,
+                                            uint8_t *c,
+                                            size_t clen_max,
+                                            size_t *written,
+                                            uint8_t *mac,
+                                            size_t maclen);
+int aegis256x2_state_encrypt_final(aegis256x2_state *st_,
+                                   uint8_t *c,
+                                   size_t clen_max,
+                                   size_t *written,
+                                   size_t maclen);
+int aegis256x2_state_decrypt_detached_update(aegis256x2_state *st_,
+                                             uint8_t *m,
+                                             size_t mlen_max,
+                                             size_t *written,
+                                             const uint8_t *c,
+                                             size_t clen) ;
+int aegis256x2_state_decrypt_detached_final(aegis256x2_state *st_,
+                                            uint8_t *m,
+                                            size_t mlen_max,
+                                            size_t *written,
+                                            const uint8_t *mac,
+                                            size_t maclen) ;
+void aegis256x2_stream(uint8_t *out, size_t len, const uint8_t *npub, const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis256x2_encrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *c,
+                                        const uint8_t *m,
+                                        size_t mlen,
+                                        const uint8_t *npub,
+                                        const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis256x2_decrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *m,
+                                        const uint8_t *c,
+                                        size_t clen,
+                                        const uint8_t *npub,
+                                        const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis256x2_mac_init(aegis256x2_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *k, const uint8_t *npub);
+int aegis256x2_mac_update(aegis256x2_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *m, size_t mlen);
+int aegis256x2_mac_final(aegis256x2_mac_state *st_, uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+int aegis256x2_mac_verify(aegis256x2_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+void aegis256x2_mac_reset(aegis256x2_mac_state *st_);
+void aegis256x2_mac_state_clone(aegis256x2_mac_state *dst, const aegis256x2_mac_state *src);
+
+/* aegis256x4.h */
+typedef struct aegis256x4_state { uint8_t opaque[576]; } aegis256x4_state;
+typedef struct aegis256x4_mac_state { uint8_t opaque[960]; } aegis256x4_mac_state;
+size_t aegis256x4_keybytes(void);
+size_t aegis256x4_npubbytes(void);
+size_t aegis256x4_abytes_min(void);
+size_t aegis256x4_abytes_max(void);
+size_t aegis256x4_tailbytes_max(void);
+int aegis256x4_encrypt_detached(uint8_t *c,
+                                uint8_t *mac,
+                                size_t maclen,
+                                const uint8_t *m,
+                                size_t mlen,
+                                const uint8_t *ad,
+                                size_t adlen,
+                                const uint8_t *npub,
+                                const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis256x4_decrypt_detached(uint8_t *m,
+                                const uint8_t *c,
+                                size_t clen,
+                                const uint8_t *mac,
+                                size_t maclen,
+                                const uint8_t *ad,
+                                size_t adlen,
+                                const uint8_t *npub,
+                                const uint8_t *k) ;
+int aegis256x4_encrypt(uint8_t *c,
+                       size_t maclen,
+                       const uint8_t *m,
+                       size_t mlen,
+                       const uint8_t *ad,
+                       size_t adlen,
+                       const uint8_t *npub,
+                       const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis256x4_decrypt(uint8_t *m,
+                       const uint8_t *c,
+                       size_t clen,
+                       size_t maclen,
+                       const uint8_t *ad,
+                       size_t adlen,
+                       const uint8_t *npub,
+                       const uint8_t *k) ;
+void aegis256x4_state_init(aegis256x4_state *st_,
+                           const uint8_t *ad,
+                           size_t adlen,
+                           const uint8_t *npub,
+                           const uint8_t *k);
+int aegis256x4_state_encrypt_update(aegis256x4_state *st_,
+                                    uint8_t *c,
+                                    size_t clen_max,
+                                    size_t *written,
+                                    const uint8_t *m,
+                                    size_t mlen);
+int aegis256x4_state_encrypt_detached_final(aegis256x4_state *st_,
+                                            uint8_t *c,
+                                            size_t clen_max,
+                                            size_t *written,
+                                            uint8_t *mac,
+                                            size_t maclen);
+int aegis256x4_state_encrypt_final(aegis256x4_state *st_,
+                                   uint8_t *c,
+                                   size_t clen_max,
+                                   size_t *written,
+                                   size_t maclen);
+int aegis256x4_state_decrypt_detached_update(aegis256x4_state *st_,
+                                             uint8_t *m,
+                                             size_t mlen_max,
+                                             size_t *written,
+                                             const uint8_t *c,
+                                             size_t clen) ;
+int aegis256x4_state_decrypt_detached_final(aegis256x4_state *st_,
+                                            uint8_t *m,
+                                            size_t mlen_max,
+                                            size_t *written,
+                                            const uint8_t *mac,
+                                            size_t maclen) ;
+void aegis256x4_stream(uint8_t *out, size_t len, const uint8_t *npub, const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis256x4_encrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *c,
+                                        const uint8_t *m,
+                                        size_t mlen,
+                                        const uint8_t *npub,
+                                        const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis256x4_decrypt_unauthenticated(uint8_t *m,
+                                        const uint8_t *c,
+                                        size_t clen,
+                                        const uint8_t *npub,
+                                        const uint8_t *k);
+void aegis256x4_mac_init(aegis256x4_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *k, const uint8_t *npub);
+int aegis256x4_mac_update(aegis256x4_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *m, size_t mlen);
+int aegis256x4_mac_final(aegis256x4_mac_state *st_, uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+int aegis256x4_mac_verify(aegis256x4_mac_state *st_, const uint8_t *mac, size_t maclen);
+void aegis256x4_mac_reset(aegis256x4_mac_state *st_);
+void aegis256x4_mac_state_clone(aegis256x4_mac_state *dst, const aegis256x4_mac_state *src);
diff --git a/pyaegis/util.py b/pyaegis/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee61fcd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyaegis/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+"""Utility helpers for pyaegis.
+
+Currently provides Python-side aligned allocation helpers that avoid relying
+on libc/posix_memalign. Memory is owned by Python; C code only borrows it.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from ._loader import ffi
+
+__all__ = ["new_aligned_struct", "aligned_address"]
+
+
+def aligned_address(obj) -> int:
+    """Return the integer address of the start of a cffi array object."""
+    return int(ffi.cast("uintptr_t", ffi.addressof(obj, 0)))
+
+
+def new_aligned_struct(ctype: str, alignment: int) -> tuple[object, object]:
+    """Allocate memory for one instance of ``ctype`` with requested alignment.
+
+    This allocates a Python-owned unsigned char[] buffer large enough to find
+    an aligned start address. Returns (ptr, owner) where ptr is a ``ctype *``
+    and owner is the buffer object keeping the memory alive.
+    """
+    if alignment & (alignment - 1):  # Not power of two
+        raise ValueError("alignment must be a power of two")
+    size = ffi.sizeof(ctype)
+    base = ffi.new("unsigned char[]", size + alignment - 1)
+    addr = aligned_address(base)
+    offset = (-addr) & (alignment - 1)
+    aligned_uc = ffi.addressof(base, offset)
+    ptr = ffi.cast(f"{ctype} *", aligned_uc)
+    return ptr, base
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 5a54812..b0956b4 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ requires = ["hatchling", "cffi>=2.0.0"]
 build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
-name = "aegis"
+name = "pyaegis"
 version = "0.1.0"
 description = "Python bindings for libaegis (links to system library)"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
@@ -33,6 +33,4 @@ dev = [
 path = "tools/build_hook.py"
 
 [tool.hatch.build.targets.wheel]
-# Ensure only the Python package is included by default; native artifacts
-# will be added by the build hook once implemented.
 packages = ["pyaegis"]
diff --git a/tools/build_hook.py b/tools/build_hook.py
index 452c660..5818f21 100644
--- a/tools/build_hook.py
+++ b/tools/build_hook.py
@@ -10,8 +10,11 @@ from hatchling.builders.hooks.plugin.interface import BuildHookInterface
 class BuildHook(BuildHookInterface):
     """Build dynamic library with Zig and include in wheel."""
 
+    PLUGIN_NAME = "pyaegis_build_hook"
+
     def initialize(self, version: str, build_data: dict) -> None:
         """Build library with Zig and add it to the wheel."""
+        super().initialize(version, build_data)
         if self.target_name != "wheel":
             return
 
@@ -19,52 +22,79 @@ class BuildHook(BuildHookInterface):
             raise RuntimeError("Zig compiler not found in PATH")
 
         libaegis_dir = Path(self.root) / "libaegis"
+        self.app.display_info(f"[aegis] Using libaegis source at: {libaegis_dir}")
         original_build_zig = libaegis_dir / "build.zig"
         if not original_build_zig.exists():
             raise RuntimeError(f"libaegis source not found at {libaegis_dir}")
 
-        # Prepare a temporary build directory (avoid touching original files)
-        build_dir = Path.cwd() / "libaegis-build"
-        build_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
-        build_zig = build_dir / "build.zig"
-        build_zig.write_text(
-            original_build_zig.read_text(encoding="utf-8").replace(
-                ".linkage = .static,", ".linkage = .dynamic,"
-            ),
-            encoding="utf-8",
-        )
-        for res in "build.zig.zon", "src":
-            (build_dir / res).symlink_to(libaegis_dir / res)
-        self.app.display_info("[aegis] Building libaegis dynamic library with Zig...")
         try:
-            subprocess.run(
-                ["zig", "build", "-Drelease"],
-                check=True,
-                cwd=str(build_dir),
-                stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
+            build_dir = Path("libaegis-build")
+            build_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
+            build_zig = build_dir / "build.zig"
+            build_zig.write_text(
+                original_build_zig.read_text(encoding="utf-8").replace(
+                    ".linkage = .static,", ".linkage = .dynamic,"
+                ),
+                encoding="utf-8",
             )
-        except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
-            output = e.stdout.decode(errors="replace") if e.stdout else ""
-            raise RuntimeError(f"Zig build failed:\n{output}") from e
+            for res in ("build.zig.zon", "src"):
+                (build_dir / res).symlink_to(libaegis_dir / res)
+            self.app.display_info(
+                "[aegis] Building libaegis dynamic library with Zig..."
+            )
+            try:
+                subprocess.run(
+                    ["zig", "build", "-Drelease"],
+                    check=True,
+                    cwd=str(build_dir),
+                    stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                    stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
+                )
+            except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+                output = e.stdout.decode(errors="replace") if e.stdout else ""
+                raise RuntimeError(f"Zig build failed:\n{output}") from e
 
-        lib_dir = build_dir / "zig-out" / "lib"
+            lib_dir = build_dir / "zig-out" / "lib"
 
-        dynamic_lib = None
-        for lib_file in lib_dir.iterdir():
-            if lib_file.name.startswith("libaegis") and lib_file.suffix in (
-                ".so",
-                ".dylib",
-                ".dll",
-            ):
-                dynamic_lib = lib_file
-                break
+            dynamic_lib = None
+            for lib_file in lib_dir.iterdir():
+                if lib_file.name.startswith("libaegis") and lib_file.suffix in (
+                    ".so",
+                    ".dylib",
+                    ".dll",
+                ):
+                    dynamic_lib = lib_file
+                    break
 
-        if not dynamic_lib or not dynamic_lib.exists():
-            raise RuntimeError(f"Built dynamic library not found in {lib_dir}")
+            if not dynamic_lib or not dynamic_lib.exists():
+                raise RuntimeError(f"Built dynamic library not found in {lib_dir}")
 
+            # Copy the built dynamic library into the Python package tree so that it
+            # is naturally included as package data. Hatch will pick up anything
+            # under the listed packages ("pyaegis"), so a direct copy is simpler
+            # than relying on force_include. We still leave the original artifact
+            # in place in case other hooks/tools want to inspect it.
+            package_build_dir = Path(self.root) / "pyaegis" / "build"
+            package_build_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            self.app.display_info(
+                f"[aegis] Staging dynamic library to package... {package_build_dir} {Path.cwd()}"
+            )
+            dest_path = package_build_dir / dynamic_lib.name
+            try:
+                shutil.copy2(dynamic_lib, dest_path)
+            except Exception as e:  # pragma: no cover - defensive
+                raise RuntimeError(
+                    f"Failed to copy dynamic library to package: {e}"
+                ) from e
+        finally:
+            shutil.rmtree(build_dir, ignore_errors=True)
+
+        # Retain force_include as a fallback for environments where an older
+        # Hatch might not automatically include non-.py files, or if wheels are
+        # built with custom exclusion rules.
         if "force_include" not in build_data:
             build_data["force_include"] = {}
-        dest_rel = str(Path("build") / dynamic_lib.name)
-        build_data["force_include"][str(dynamic_lib)] = dest_rel
-        self.app.display_info(f"[aegis] Added dynamic library to wheel: {dest_rel}")
+        build_data["force_include"][str(dest_path)] = str(
+            Path("pyaegis") / "build" / dynamic_lib.name
+        )
+        self.app.display_info(f"[aegis] Dynamic library staged at: {dest_path}")
diff --git a/tools/gen_cdef.py b/tools/gen_cdef.py
index 80b531f..4df6a03 100644
--- a/tools/gen_cdef.py
+++ b/tools/gen_cdef.py
@@ -130,22 +130,13 @@ def generate_cdef(include_dir: pathlib.Path) -> str:
 
         lines.append("")
 
-    # Add libc bits for aligned allocation
-    lines.extend(
-        [
-            "/* libc bits for aligned allocation on POSIX */",
-            "int posix_memalign(void **memptr, size_t alignment, size_t size);",
-            "void free(void *ptr);",
-        ]
-    )
-
     return "\n".join(lines)
 
 
 def main() -> int:
     # Find the include directory
-    root = pathlib.Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
-    include_dir = root / "src" / "include"
+    root = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.parent
+    include_dir = root / "libaegis" / "src" / "include"
 
     if not include_dir.exists():
         print(f"Include directory not found: {include_dir}", file=sys.stderr)
@@ -153,8 +144,8 @@ def main() -> int:
 
     cdef_string = generate_cdef(include_dir)
 
-    # Write to a file in the pyaegis/build subdirectory
-    output_dir = root / "python" / "pyaegis" / "build"
+    # Write to a file in the pyaegis directory
+    output_dir = root / "pyaegis"
     output_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
     output_path = output_dir / "aegis_cdef.h"
     output_path.write_text(cdef_string, encoding="utf-8")
diff --git a/tools/gen_modules.py b/tools/gen_modules.py
index 4232cf7..d4add41 100644
--- a/tools/gen_modules.py
+++ b/tools/gen_modules.py
@@ -17,13 +17,8 @@ import re
 import sys
 
 # Template and target locations
-ROOT = (
-    pathlib.Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
-    if (pathlib.Path(__file__).resolve().parents[0].name == "tools")
-    else pathlib.Path.cwd()
-)
-PY_DIR = ROOT / "python"
-AEGIS_DIR = PY_DIR / "aegis"
+ROOT = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.parent
+AEGIS_DIR = ROOT / "pyaegis"
 TEMPLATE = AEGIS_DIR / "aegis256x4.py"
 
 # Variants to generate (template excluded) and their ALIGNMENT values