Chapter 435
Chapter 435:
She had only ever seen it behind glass. Now it was right in front of her, close enough to touch. She let her gaze move over it slowly, as though passing through centuries of time. Such a rare, extraordinary thing — and damaged.
Her eyes settled on the broken antler, and a quiet ache spread through her.
“We thought it would be straightforward,” Victor said, his tone growing heavier. “But the antler sustained an impact. There are microfractures throughout the interior — dozens of them — and several hollow points. Without specialized imaging equipment, they’re essentially invisible. Simply locating each one has already proven difficult.” He exhaled. “And even if we map every damaged point, filling those narrow internal gaps is a separate problem entirely. Whatever material is used must distribute evenly, bond securely, and leave neither the weight nor the outward appearance altered. The technical requirements are beyond what we can confidently achieve p>
The others around him wore the same troubled expressions.
“I can try,” Kristine said quietly.
A flicker of hope moved across several faces — and was almost immediately extinguished by a sharp scoff from the man with glasses.
Kristine paid him no attention. She walked directly to the imaging equipment and got to work.
𝖸𝘰𝘶𝗋 ո𝖾𝘹t 𝖿а𝘷o𝘳і𝘵e 𝗋𝗲ad і𝘀 o𝗇 𝗴а𝗹ո𝗼𝘃elѕ.с𝘰𝘮
At first, the others watched with polite indifference. Then, gradually, something shifted.
She moved through the instruments with the ease of someone returning to familiar ground — microscopes, scanners, analytical devices, each one responding smoothly and precisely under her hands. That alone proved nothing definitive. But it proved one thing clearly: she had been rigorously trained.
Then came the moment that silenced the room entirely.
Drawing on the scan data, Kristine assembled a highly detailed digital model of the antler — not only its external structure, but the full landscape of internal damage. Every microfracture, every hollow point, rendered visible and precisely mapped.
The fractures were no longer a mystery. They were a diagram.
Stunned expressions moved around the room like a wave.
“Victor — she’s working with CAD and three-dimensional modeling p>
“It’s as though we can see through the antler itself. We’re not guessing anymore p>
Kristine spoke without looking up from the screen, her voice quiet but precise. “This model can also simulate different restoration approaches before anything touches the artifact. We can test projected outcomes virtually, compare them, and identify the most effective path forward. It eliminates a great deal of the risk p>
Silence fell over the room.
No one had a word to say.
A brief hush settled over the room. Then someone began to clap — hesitant at first, the sound thin and uncertain — before more hands joined in. Within moments it swelled into full, resounding applause.
Victor watched with quiet satisfaction. He cast a proud glance at Kristine, then turned to the man with glasses. “Jere, what’s your verdict p>
Jere Begum was still visibly shaken by what he had witnessed. After a pause, he looked at Kristine with unambiguous respect. “I genuinely did not expect someone so young to possess this level of ability. I spoke without thinking earlier. I apologize p>
Oliver nodded, his expression openly appreciative. “The younger generation continues to exceed every expectation p>
“Thank you, Mr. Clark,” Kristine said, composed and measured.