a (1) → v (22) if -5? f (6) → a (1) d (4) → y (25) l (12) → g (7) → “vayg” — no.
Given common puzzles, maybe it’s a (each letter typed one key to the left on QWERTY): afdl ttbyq radyw byn sbwrt
a→s, f→g, d→f, l→; (not letter) — fails. a (1) → v (22) if -5
Better guess: Could this be a encoded? Try decoding as -1 (Caesar cipher backward): a→z (z), f→e (e), d→c (c), l→k (k) → “zeck” (nonsense). Maybe the phrase is “back to basics” or similar. Let’s test “back”: b=2, a=1, c=3, k=11. “afdl” = 1,6,4,12. Doesn’t match. k=11. “afdl” = 1