Chapter 147: How Did You Do It [bonus]
Orion's mind drifted.
He watched Regulus finish demonstrating the spell, then walk him through its structure and key principles. This was no longer a theoretical concept or a passing idea. It was a fully realized piece of magic, polished enough to teach to someone else.
A tangle of emotions rose in his chest. Pride, admiration and beneath it all, a quiet ache.
My son has surpassed me.
My son can do this.
That's my son.
And yet, a thread of loss wound through the pride. Regulus was teaching him magic now. In certain domains, the boy had already outstripped his father. Time moved faster than anyone was ready for.
He reined it in. Those thoughts flickered and vanished, pressed back down where they belonged. As Head of House Black, as a father, sentimentality served no purpose. His role was to support, to provide resources, to clear the path so Regulus could soar higher and farther.
He turned his attention back to the Space Warp spell.