1260/Shed Under Lock and Key

Shed Under Lock and Key
Date of Scene:	11 March 2024
Location:	The Shed
Synopsis:	Kyouka calls Coco to place a ward over the Shed.
Cast of Characters:	Coco Kiumi, Kyouka Inai

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Coco Kiumi has posed:
With her fortunate recovery of the Sealing Key by an anonymous benefactor, Coco had offered to employ its magic at the service of the magic community that uses Radiant Heart Academy as its base, and more specifically make it so Wards wouldn't repel anyone that hasn't already come into the Shed with the proper key.

The only issue was that it was uncertain which item to use for that purpose, which meant that Kyouka had to make the rounds of a few people first and call Coco back then. Well, that has happened now, and so the young mermaid is in front of the Shed, ready to receive the details.

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Kyouka had called Coco just bit earlier to say they had made a decision and she was ready to place the enchantment. Therefore it isn't long before she is walking along the path towards the Shed, offering a smile to Coco when she sees the girl waiting there for her. "Good morning," She greets. "Thanks for coming out again."

    She approaches the Shed. "I think we have a good idea as to what to make the key." She walks up to the door. If you recall, turning the handle backwards leads into the magical portion of the Shed, the room which seems larger inside than outside. But if you turn the handle the normal way the door opens to... just a normal shed, small and dingy and cluttered on the inside. She does this, pulling open the door to reveal nothing but a collection of old gardener's tools.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"Good morning, Inai-sensei", Coco says when she sees Kyouka approach, smiling back towards her. "I trust your day has started well", the blonde girl assures herself of how the counselour's day is going.

She is always carrying the key with herself, since it already got stolen once, so when she sees that they are about to put the Shed under the protective measures they agreed on, she unties the key from her necklace, but doesn't expand it yet.

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Inside the normal part of the shed, there are a lot of old and discarded tools and other things. It looks like it once belonged to a gardener or groundskeeper but long ago fell out of disuse.

    Sitting in one corner is an old garden statue. It is a plain grey carving of a tanuki, a Japanese raccoon-dog meant to bring good luck. It has been sitting there so long it is partially overgrown with weeds, and is small enough to be picked up, although likely heavy enough to be awkward to carry very far. "There." She points to the statue. "We'll make that our key."

    "It will stay here, and we can bring new people into this side of the Shed to register them before bringing them into the magical side. It's perfect because it is small enough to carry but too big to run away with easily, and looks so ordinary no one would suspect it is more than it seems."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco follows Kyouka when she moves inside to show her what they decided to make the key and she starts outlining her plan. The mermaid nods along, listening intently up until the part the counselor explains that she intends to leave it here and use it as access key for the other side of the Shed.

"Sensei, that would lock everyone out unless they had already been granted permission. The new person wouldn't be able to access either side of the Shed as long as the key is inside, since the Ward is more on the physical location. They wouldn't be able to follow you in."

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Kyouka listens to Coco, and nods her head. "Mmm.. alright. I guess that makes sense." She says. "Hold on, we can solve this pretty easily." She walks over to the statue and bends down, lifting it up. She has to use both hands, but is able to move it easily enough. "I suppose carrying this thing inside once will be a good rite of passage." She says with a laugh. "Only the strong may enter the Shed." She's joking though, it isn't that heavy.

    Stepping outside, she places the small statue down outside and to one side of the door. It looks like someone may have placed it there for decoration, guarding the door. It looks like just the sort of thing one might expect to find in a place like this. "There we go. Perfect." She says. "No stranger walking up would think this is a key, but we'll be able to use it to let in new people when we need to."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco does reserve a smile at Kyouka's joke. The myths of King Arthur, or in this case Merlin specifically, are widespread enough that Coco has been informed of that specific part of them by osmosis even if she is not interested in that part of human culture.

She follows Kyouka back outside though, and since she guesses the preparations are actually complete now. "Ok, I will begin then", Coco says as she lets the key turn into a scepter, with which she very lightly baps the statuette as declares "Key Rod Release", letting out the Key's magical energy as she commences the enchantment.

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Kyouka steps back far enough to let Coco work. It's not that she's nervous about the magic or anything, but rather she isn't sure exactly what placing the enchantment entails and she doesn't want to accidentally get in the way. She watches with interest, curious about the actual procedure.

    She'll wait patiently while Coco works, not interrupting her unless she is asked a question or to help in some way.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
The only thing that Kyouka may notice that's relevant to the situation is the flickering of a Shed-shaped soft golden glow which the enchantment is being applied. That, and a wisp connecting the Shed and the statuette.

Soon enough, the Shed is back to its unassuming appearance, and Coco lets the Key fall back to its small form. "Ok, that's done, Inai-sensei", Coco informs the counselor. "Since we were both here when it was formed, we are already authorised. Now we just need to let others in."

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Kyouka watches this go on witha sense of satisfaction.. nodding her head. When Coco tells her it is done, she smiles. "Thank you. I really do appreciate you doing this for us, Coco." She says, genuinely. "We'll be able to feel a lot safer with the sorts of things we leave in there now. Not that I think it was very unsafe to begin with but the less chances we take the better."

    She glances at the staff that Coco holds. "If we ever need to remove the locks for some reason, can we do that with your staff as well?"

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Remove the locks? "Oh, yes, I suppose it can be done", Coco says, a bit surprised at the question. It is probably just Kyouka wanting to have a clear picture of the situation. The Sealing Key's power has placed the lock, so if by some power, the statuette were used to seal the Wards, the Key could just as easily remove them.

That does mean she isn't allowed to let it fall in the wrong hands, but she wouldn't do that regardless, since she needs the Key to locate Gaito's underwater moving base. "And it's no problem, sensei. I am glad to be of help. For anything else, you know where to find me. Have a nice day" And once Kyouka dismisses her, Coco walks away for her morning classes.