The mage sighed, and cleared his throat.
"This is an enchanted compass, which has been near a source of natural energy for far too long. It has a semblance of consciousness, in that it recognised the first being to come across it as its owner, and it seems to want to return to you - the arrow kept turning towards you regardless of how I held it.
Gloria swam around in a circle nervously, as she listened to his explanation.