Yes he is
That aside i think it's a pretty intelligent test. It look like just a power level test at first, but you can see the actual skill involved to it
I’m reading over these chapters again and Alto’s pupils changed for one panel while they were exchanging magic… I’m wondering if that sudden subtle change in him is the reason he develops
silver magic
later on his own? Because his pupils changed back to normal afterwards. If so that would be some insane foreshadowing