[Viktor opens his mouth, but stops short of actually saying anything--part indignation, part disbelief that this would be her argument. He wishes, again, that he'd brought Sam or Steve, or that Jayce was here, someone who could offer charisma and a snappy retort.]

My understanding is that most of the technology here relies on New Magic. Is your argument that any inventor who utilizes its established principles is a plagiarist?

[He finds this offensive enough, apparently, and he has half a mind to dig the fragment out of his messenger bag, As tempting as it is, he might put River at risk, and he hasn't quite reached the point where he feels it's necessary to show that he has it, though he has little patience for lawyering.]

I don't want compensation. This theory of arcana was meant to restore, not to--to harm.

[Viktor has always sort of held a grudge, that he was brought here while actively dying, made to navigate the Academy's red tape to save himself.]

It is...unconscionable, that I should see it used this way.