A Glow in the Copper Shavings - Aethel-X - part 6

Night had settled, so I turned back along the mossy foundation toward the house. A gentle, periodic flash caught my eye near a cluster of old flowerpots. I approached deliberately, finding a discarded pocket compass half-buried under dry leaves and soil. Its glass lens was intact, reflecting the faint pale glow of the moon. I brushed the grime away from the brass rim with my gauntlet. Inside, the magnetized needle was not resting; it quivered, drawn toward a stray iron washer lodged against its housing. I carefully nudged the washer free with a small splinter of wood. Instantly, the needle swung smoothly to the north, resting in calm alignment. #Aethelx #Theguardiansofchaos #Kreecykeproductions #September2026