Chapter 53: Duel with Orion
Orion recalled all the abnormalities from Regulus's childhood — magic awakening at ten months, full sentences by age one, an understanding of magic that left peers in the dust.
Reason told him: his son might very well be telling the truth.
"Right now — just how far can you go?" Orion asked.
Regulus didn't answer directly. He only said: "If Father wants to know, why not find out firsthand."
An odd glint passed through Orion's eyes. He stood. "Follow me."
A seemingly ordinary Black family portrait hung at the far wall of the study. Orion walked over and tapped the Sirius-star motif in its bottom-right corner with his wand.
The portrait slid smoothly aside, revealing a hidden stone door carved with intricate magical runes. Orion incanted; the runes blazed red, and the door ground open.
Beyond it lay the Black family's private training room — spacious, paved with hard black stone.
Rune-etched protective wards covered the walls. Training targets and implements were stacked in corners.