"… Do people not count as magical for these purposes, then? – I should be asking Cerberus this."

"I have a feeling the answer is a shrug."

"Why do you call him 'Cerberus'?"

"Because he seemed to object some to being called Kero. And I don't know him all that well."

"You know him fairly well. He doesn't know you because you're two days old."

"Seems weird to treat it as though we're familiar enough I can use nicknames he maybe doesn't like."

"I guess. He hasn't really objected to it since the first day, though."

Tyler shrugs.

"What do you want to do?"

"Right now?"

"Yeah. And in general, I guess."

"I don't have strong opinions about right now. Long-term I think it's similar to yours – try to collect the cards to avert catastrophe, use them and sorcery to hopefully benefit society."

"Okay, how about weak opinions about right now?"

"Ask Cerberus about the things I suggested earlier?"

Theo has his phone out.

Gosh, has he been taking notes. Perhaps he has.

"Oi Kero!" he calls.

The bear floats back towards them from—somewhere. He looks like he's been eating. "Hmpf?"

"– Tyler had a few questions and I hope you didn't eat anything you weren't supposed to."

"—what wasn't I supposed to eat?"

"Probably nothing in particular, but if you cleared out the fridge Dad'll want to know."

"I didn't! Just some cake."

"I was guessing you wouldn't go for the pasta, yeah."

"Anyway – questions included: could the Lock be used to keep the cards safe in a bag?"

"No, the Lock needs to be physically located in a lock or something like that to work."

"Bag with a padlock?"