I think Clive writes the book, he is after all the one narrating and there is that sidequest about him picking up the quill to write the story.
Yeah, that's true, and it'd be a weirdly poetic way of Harpocrates' words about Clive putting down his sword (since he wouldn't be able to use it anymore now that his hand turned to stone) to pick up the quill (which he could learn to use left-handed) coming true. And if he can't use magic anymore and the curse stopped at his hand, then it shouldn't progress anymore, right? Yeah, I guess I'm coming around on the idea that Clive survives, so that would make me okay with the ending.