The next morning, after breakfast. Alexander didn't bring Silver or Copper with him this time.
He wanted this visit to be serious and focused.
Mounting his broom, he flew alone through the clear morning sky until the massive Strongman estate came into view.
Landing smoothly at the front courtyard, he was greeted almost immediately by one of the family butlers.
"Welcome back, Young Master Alex. Young Master Kyle is expecting you."
Alexander nodded.
"Lead the way."
The butler guided him through the mansion's grand corridors until they reached a private study room near the training wing.
When Alexander stepped inside, Kyle was already there.
Books.
Scrolls.
Training journals.
Everything was laid out neatly across a long table.
Kyle crossed his arms but smirked slightly.
"Here. Go through them. Let me know if you've got questions."
Alexander walked closer, scanning the materials.
Then he spoke.
"I wanted to ask… how exactly did you train?"
Kyle raised a brow.
Alexander continued calmly.
"Everyone knows the standard foundations."
He began listing them on his fingers:
Spell control — reducing magic waste.
Spell complexity — strengthening spell structure.
Willpower — amplifying output.
Magical knowledge — understanding spell theory.
Age growth — natural magic expansion.
"The Strongman family has a dueling legacy," Alexander added. "I'm not asking for your secrets. Just different training methods to grow stronger."
Kyle studied him for a moment—then nodded.
"Alright. I'll show you what we can share."
Kyle pulled forward a thick training manual.
"This is our primary conditioning method."
He flipped it open.
"Magical Overload Training."
Alexander leaned in.
Kyle explained:
"It works like muscle training. You strain your magic past comfort… cause micro-damage… recover… then grow stronger."
He began listing examples.
Sustaining a Protego Dome for hours.
Continuous wandless spells like Lumos.
Holding multiple levitation targets long-term.
Casting spells while completely exhausted.
Alexander's eyes sharpened.
Kyle continued.
"Results include…"
Expanded magic core capacity.
Denser, thicker spells.
Faster casting.
Eventual silent casting.
Alexander nodded slowly.
So it's magical endurance conditioning.
That explained Kyle's explosive output.
Kyle slid another book over.
"This one uses Alchemy to reinforce magical channels during training."
Alexander opened it… and immediately felt a headache.
Complex formulas.
Runic circles.
Potion infusion cycles.
Magical vascular theory.
He skimmed it briefly—then closed it.
"…I'll pass for now."
Kyle snorted.
"Yeah. Most duelists hate that book."
The final book caught Alexander's full attention.
"This one's important," Kyle said.
"Understanding your wand. Its core. Its personality."
Alexander flipped pages carefully.
"By syncing with your wand's core magic… spells become easier to cast… stronger… more natural."
His thoughts drifted back to the duel.
The moment their spells clashed.
The surge he felt.
Excitement.
His thunderbird core had reacted instinctively—almost joyfully.
Alexander murmured,
"…Interesting."
After reviewing the materials, the two began exchanging training experiences.
Kyle talked about years of structured spell drilling, combat simulations, and magical endurance routines.
Then he asked,
"So how do you train?"
Alexander answered honestly.
"I teach."
Kyle blinked.
"…What?"
"I spend most of my time teaching younger students basic spells."
Kyle stared at him in disbelief.
"You're joking."
Alexander laughed.
"Nope."
While Kyle trained by pushing spells and body to the limit.
Alexander refined fundamentals to perfection.
Control.
Efficiency.
Precision.
Kyle leaned back slowly.
"…That's insane."
Kyle felt like he got a headache from listening to how Alex talked about magic and what he had been doing at Hogwarts.
Eventually, he waved his hand, and Alexander understood and quickly packed away the books, scrolls, and training journals.
Alexander was about to jump out and fly on his broom when Kyle said.
"Wait!" He quickly opened his drawer, grabbed a few things, and said, "Here is the basic potion and formula to help recover after training."
Alexander turned around and accepted them.
"Thanks! I really do appreciate what you are doing."
They shook hands briefly.
Alexander smiled and waved Kyle goodbye.
Jumping out of the window and flying off into the distance.
Shortly after Alexander left, another figure stepped into the office.
Mr. Strongman.
Kyle didn't turn and said.
"There is time before training."
His father nodded and asked calmly,
"Do you know why you lost?"
Kyle hesitated.
"…Because he's stronger?"
"Partly correct," Mr. Strongman said.
"But the real reason… is that he used his brain."
Kyle frowned slightly.
His father continued.
"During the duel, he was relaxed most of the time."
"He was only surprised once. It was when he thought he had won the duel. After landing the binding charm on you."
Kyle's eyes widened slightly.
"When your Bombardas collided, he never dropped his guard afterward."
Mr. Strongman folded his arms.
"The way he used basic spells… his control… his timing…"
He paused.
"I'm fairly certain he was never serious."
Silence filled the room.
Mr. Strongman delivered the final blow calmly:
"It looked like he could duel ten of you… and still have magic left."
Kyle's fists clenched.
He had given everything.
And his father was saying Alexander hadn't.
Then came the final observation:
"Did you notice how easily he cast Protego Maxima?"
Kyle's eyes flickered.
"It was routine for him."
"The layering of his Protego Maxima was not normal. Alex spent a lot of time refining it and improving the spell. He could've held you off indefinitely… but it seemed like he got bored… and decided to push you harder."
Kyle said nothing.
His mind replayed the duel again.
Every moment.
Every smile Alexander had.
Mr. Strongman stepped closer.
"So… are you quitting?"
The words hit like a slap.
Kyle's hands clenched tighter.
His voice came out firm.
"…No."
Stronger this time, Kyle said.
"I'll never give up."
He looked out the window towards the direction where Alexander had flown.
"I'll beat him."
"I'll become the best duelist."
For the first time that morning—
Mr. Strongman smiled.
"Good."
He turned toward the training wing doors.
"Then come. We train now."
Kyle followed immediately.
"Yes, sir."