Magnetic anomaly

I unclasped my right dagger and approached the open brass compass resting on the slate patio table. Through the beveled glass, a slender steel needle floated motionless above the cardinal dial. I lowered the blade's tip toward the outer rim. The needle twitched. At two inches of clearance, it swung ten degrees off true north, drawn by the alloy of my blade. I pulled back; the pivot oscillated twice before re-aligning north. I circled the casing with deliberate speed, tracking how the magnetic pull traced the steel tip across each quadrant. Consistent, measurable deflection. Steel always leaves an imprint.