Chapter 267: 257: The Brother Who Returned II
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By the time John and Fizz left the dorm, several students had already gathered near the courtyard path. Some had heard that Ned White was waiting there. Others had only seen a noble group blocking the road and decided that watching was more important than eating breakfast.
John stepped into the courtyard and saw Ned standing near the center. He wore a white academy coat with golden lines along the sleeves, and a sword rested at his side. Light mana gathered faintly around his body, making him stand out from the students around him.
Fizz floated beside John and sighed. "Breakfast is being delayed again."
John kept walking.
Ned stepped into his path. "Stop."
John stopped and looked at him.
The students around them became quiet. Ned had seen John several times before. He had watched him in the academy yard, heard rumors about his void-like power, and even seen Rhea kiss him. Until now, he had only believed John was an unknown student with an annoying name.
He had never seriously connected him to the weak child who disappeared from the White estate years ago. The old John had been thin, frightened, and always covered in old clothes. He kept his head down and spoke carefully because one wrong word often earned him a beating. The student standing before Ned now had a stronger body, colder eyes, and no fear in his posture.
Ned stepped closer.
"Stay away from Rhea," he said. "She belongs to the White family."
John’s eyes became cold. "She belongs to herself."
Ned’s jaw tightened. "You do not understand your place."
John remained still.
Ned leaned closer and spoke in the same cruel tone he often used when they were children.
"When I tell you to lower your head, you lower it. Trash should never look directly at a White."
The words entered John’s ears and pulled an old memory from the darkest part of his mind.
He remembered standing in the White estate courtyard with blood running from his nose. Ned had been younger, but the same proud smile had covered his face. John had looked at him because Ned had taken away the small food bag the midwife gave him.
Ned had spoken the same sentence that day.
When I tell you to lower your head, you lower it. Trash should never look directly at a White.
John had answered with a sentence he remembered even after everything else became distant.
Now he looked into Ned’s eyes and said it again.
"A White who needs five brothers behind him is only brave when the trash cannot fight back."
Ned froze.
His expression changed slowly.
The courtyard vanished from his mind for one moment. He saw the White estate again. He saw a thin child standing in front of him with blood on his mouth, refusing to lower his head even while his legs shook.
Only one person had ever said those words to him.
Ned stared at John’s face again. This time, he truly looked. He noticed the eyes, the shape of the jaw, and the small scar near the left eyebrow.
His anger was replaced by disbelief.
"No," he whispered.
John said nothing.
Ned stepped back half a step. "That sentence..."
Fizz looked between them. "Do nobles remember insults better than birthdays?"
Ned ignored him. His eyes remained fixed on John.
"You are that bastard... John."
John’s face became colder. "That person no longer exists."
Ned continued staring as if a dead man had stepped out of the ground. "You disappeared from the estate three years ago."
John did not answer.
"We thought you were dead."
John looked at him without emotion. "You hoped I was dead."
Whispers spread among the watching students.
Ned’s disbelief slowly changed into anger again. "You survived, and now you awakened void magic."
"The rumors say many things."
Ned’s hand moved toward his sword. "You should have stayed gone."
John’s voice remained calm. "You should have learned something while I was gone."
Ned pulled his sword free. Light gathered across the blade as he pointed it toward John.
"You were trash inside the White estate. You are still trash now."
John remembered the cold storage room, the empty plates, and the servants who looked away when his brothers beat him. He remembered Ned laughing while John struggled to stand. Those memories rose inside him, but his anger did not explode.
It became quiet.
Fizz floated closer to John’s shoulder. "John."
John lifted one hand slightly. "I know."
Ned attacked first.
Light covered his sword and formed a bright edge that extended beyond the blade. He rushed forward with the confidence of someone who believed his family name would win the fight before it began.
John stepped aside. The blade passed his shoulder and cut through the air.
Ned turned quickly and swung again, but John raised one palm. A small black pull appeared in front of his hand. The sword changed direction and dragged Ned’s arm sideways, breaking his balance. John stepped forward and struck him in the chest with his shoulder.
Ned stumbled back several steps.
The students shouted in surprise.
Ned planted one foot, recovered, and raised his free hand. Three spears of white light formed above him.
"Radiant Spear!"
The light spears flew toward John.
John spread his fingers. The air in front of him bent as his gravity magic caught the first spear and pulled it away. It struck the ground beside him and exploded. John turned his body to avoid the second spear, but the third came directly toward his chest.
Fizz flew in front of him and opened his mouth.
A stream of orange fire struck the third spear and forced it upward. Fire and light exploded above the courtyard, sending bright sparks through the air.
Fizz spun through the falling sparks and shouted, "Do not throw shiny sticks at my master."
Ned stared at him with anger. "You are only a contracted spirit."
Fizz formed two fireballs above his paws. "I am Professor Lord Fizz. Respect the full title."
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