Chapter 17 - The Breaking of the Stylus
Arthur realized his replica ledger was losing ground against the ancient authority of the Actuary. In a desperate, cornered-beast maneuver reminiscent of the man with the wrench back in Chapter 1, Arthur threw his heavy green book directly at Victoria’s face to break her concentration, then lunged forward with a concealed tactical combat knife.
Victoria deflected the heavy book with her forearm, but the distraction cost her a microsecond. Arthur was upon her, his ancient eyes wide with madness. He swung the knife with brute, erratic force. Victoria brought up her right hand to parry, aligning her silver stylus to catch the blade.
CRACK.
The impact echoed like a gunshot across the frozen rooftop. The legendary silver stylus—the scalpel-sharp tool of office that had served Victoria for three centuries—snapped cleanly in two beneath the force of the enchanted military blade. The top half of the silver needle spun through the air and clattered across the wet concrete, sliding out of reach.
Victoria stumbled backward, holding only the broken, jagged handle of her weapon.
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Arthur stood over her, his chest heaving, his youth temporarily restored by the surge of adrenaline and dark magic. He pointed his knife at her chest and laughed triumphantly. "Look at you! Your tool of office is broken. Without your little silver needle, you can’t write. You can't amend. You are just a mortal woman whose lifespan expired two hundred years ago! You are nothing!"
Behind him, Elena screamed Victoria's name, struggling to rise against the heavy wind.
