Chapter 143: Rematch
Sirius crumpled with a strangled grunt, his body folding like a shrimp.
Pain detonated beneath his right ribs, as if someone had shoved a red-iron poker into his side and twisted. His vision went black. His legs gave out, knees cracking against the stone floor. The wand clattered from his hand.
Both palms pressed against the wound, mouth gaping for air that wouldn't come. The pain had seized his breathing muscles into spasm.
Regulus withdrew his hand and stepped back.
Sirius knelt on the stone, forehead to the ground, body curled tight, still gasping.
The pain began to fade. What replaced it was worse: the humiliation of being dropped by a single blow, and that burned hotter than any bruise.
Regulus didn't look at him again. He turned and walked toward Orion.
Orion stood by the wall, watching. The corner of his eye twitched.
His intention had been for Regulus to demonstrate the gap through magic, through technique, something that would spark Sirius's competitive instinct.