Chapter 263: Fallen Star from Afar

"Hold on a second. If I had any intention of attacking you, I would've done it already. So there's no need to look so tense," Summer said calmly.

The long-haired man in front of him still carried a hint of hostility in his eyes, clearly mistaking him for one of the so-called Royal Guards. Meanwhile, the armor-clad noble was visibly surprised but showed none of the unease that the elderly butler beside him had. The old man had already slipped a hand into his coat, hesitating as if debating whether or not to act.

Still, they seemed willing to listen. That was a good sign.

Clearing his throat, Summer decided to clarify his identity. "I'm not a Royal Guard—just a traveler from another region."

"Another region…?" The long-haired man straightened his posture slightly as if signaling his son to stand closer to him. Both the young noble and the butler exchanged wary glances at the mention of "another region."

Ever since the war ended, all of Galar had been deeply suspicious of outsiders. Though Galar was an island nation, just beyond the waters lay an enormous continent—one that had been ravaged by a devastating war.

That war hadn't ended in mere bloodshed. It had ended because of a terrifying weapon, a device capable of wiping out an entire capital city in an instant. The fear of that weapon still loomed over Galar. Would that country restart the weapon? Would it strike Galar next? Even the Emperor was said to be losing sleep, scrambling to find any form of power that could stand against it.

So when an unknown traveler suddenly appeared with Pokémon far stronger than any knight's… It was no wonder they were on edge.

"Sunset Forest," Summer said naturally. His expression was calm, giving no indication of deception. Because he wasn't lying. Though he had no idea why they were so cautious, telling the truth was always the best way to gain trust.

The others repeated the name in confusion. "Sunset Forest?" They glanced at each other, puzzled. Where in Galar was that? They'd never heard of it before. Yet Summer had stated it with such confidence… Was he truly lying?

"Well, whatever." The long-haired man sighed, easing his stance. "Someone who chats this much before fighting doesn't exactly seem like a threat."

"Exactly, Dad! Summer saved me just now! There's no way he's a bad person!" Hilder added, stepping forward.

The man blinked in surprise before his face darkened.

WHACK!

A heavy fist landed on Hilder's head.

"You idiot son! Why didn't you say that earlier?! And—wait a second—did you go into the depths of the forest?! Why else would you have run into danger?!"

Hilder clutched his head, eyes watering from the pain. "I tried to tell you! But you and those two guys kept interrupting me! And I didn't go that deep—I was just looking for the materials you needed!"

The man glanced at the pile of black metal shards at their feet. These were the materials he had spent sleepless nights dreaming of. And this kid… had gathered so many?

"...Hilder, I was out of line," the man said, his expression softening. He turned to Summer and bowed deeply. "Summer, I'm truly grateful to you for saving my son. My name is Black."

Then he turned back to Hilder. "That said—how did you even end up in a life-or-death situation?"

"Oh, that? Well, uh…" Hilder scratched his head and began explaining everything. By the end of it, his father's fist met his head again.

WHACK!

"You moron! Didn't it seem suspicious that all those fragments were gathered in one place?! You think materials like these just fall out of the sky?!" He sighed in frustration. "I know you were trying to help, but next time, use your damn brain! If Summer hadn't been there… even if you brought me back a whole meteor, what would it matter if you were dead?!"

Hilder opened his mouth as if to argue—but then closed it again. His father was right. And… he'd probably been worried sick.

A Meteor?

Summer's sharp ears immediately picked up on that detail. So these blackened metal pieces were fragments of a meteorite?

And this was Slumbering Weald in the past… meaning that Zacian and Zamazenta lived here. Could this meteorite be related to them? After all, the Pokémon that changed Galar's entire history—Eternatus—was also a "visitor from the stars." Could this fallen star be of similar origin?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Summer, allow me to apologize for our earlier hostility," the blond-haired noble finally spoke, giving a polite nod. "My name is Sordward of House Cavendish."

Summer narrowed his eyes slightly. Cavendish? So not Howard, then. But they were certainly a noble house—one with enough arrogance to be confident in their status.

"Fowler, you may proceed," Sordward gestured to his butler. The old man, Fowler, stepped forward and placed a hand on his chest in a respectful bow.

"Sir Summer, I am Fowler, the steward of House Cavendish," he said with deep reverence. "Your strength is undeniable. Though I may be overestimating myself, I trust my ability to read people. And Sordward shares my sentiment."

"You seem unfamiliar with Galar's customs, so perhaps you require a place to settle. If you are willing… Sordward wishes to recruit you as a mentor for House Cavendish. You would train Lord Sordward in the ways of taming and nurturing Pokémon. And of course, you would be provided with only the finest accommodations."

"If you are uncertain, you may accompany us to our estate first and decide after."

Fowler's words were formal, but Summer could hear the undeniable respect in them. Unfortunately for him… Summer already had his answer.

"No need to think it over," he said decisively. "I refuse."

Fowler's expression faltered, though he seemed to have expected this answer. But before the disappointment could fully sink in, Summer continued—

"That said… I wouldn't mind teaching you a thing or two."

Fowler's face brightened immediately.

Sordward, however, did not look as pleased.

"Tch… I see." He exhaled deeply, masking his dissatisfaction. "Very well. It seems I shall have to settle for lessons rather than complete tutelage."

"...Then teach me as well!"

A new voice cut in. Hilder stepped forward, eyes burning with determination.

"Summer, can you teach me too?! And Sirfetch'd!"

The duck Pokémon nodded furiously beside him. It had already witnessed Summer's Rillaboom and Corviknight. Their strength was undeniable. It wanted to become that strong. It wanted to be a warrior worthy of the title "knight."

Black frowned, glancing warily at Sordward and Fowler. Cavendish nobles weren't known for being generous. Yet… the noble boy wasn't reacting negatively. He seemed… intrigued, if anything.

"Of course."

Sordward agreed without hesitation. As the heir to House Cavendish, what question could possibly be too difficult for him to answer?

Meanwhile, Hilder looked far less confident. "Summer, can you at least tell me what you want to ask first? I'm feeling really uneasy here…"

"Don't worry," Summer reassured him. "Your father can probably answer it. Actually, I won't keep it a mystery—it's about that meteorite you mentioned earlier."

The moment the words left his mouth, Black's expression lit up with excitement. "The meteorite?! Are you interested in the meteorite?!" He practically shouted, his entire body shaking as he flailed his arms. His pupils trembled with barely contained enthusiasm. This was something he had dreamed of for years.

If Summer really was capable of retrieving it—and if he was willing to share even a fraction of it—then Black would have no problem telling him everything he knew. More importantly, Summer was strong. Very strong. If there was anyone who could stand against the two Pokémon guarding the meteorite, it was him. For the first time, Black felt a real sense of hope—hope that his long-lost wish might finally come true.

"Dad…" Hilder sighed. "You haven't changed at all." Then, turning back to Summer, he hesitated before finally nodding. "Alright. Yeah, I don't mind."

"Great," Summer said with a satisfied nod. "But let's move somewhere else first. It's not safe to stay in the forest for too long—we might attract unwanted attention from Pokémon."

The others blinked. What Pokémon could possibly bother you?

"…That makes sense," Black agreed quickly. "Come to my place. At least there, we'll have somewhere to sit."

Sordward, on the other hand, looked far more interested than concerned. His true goal in coming here was to commission a sword and shield from Black, and the blacksmith had already declared the meteorite as the ideal material.

The group made their decision and soon left the thick of the forest, heading toward the small stone house where Black and Hilder lived.

The house was cramped and cluttered with blacksmithing tools, the air thick with the smell of soot and burning metal. It was far from comfortable, so Black didn't even bother inviting Summer inside. Instead, he dragged a chair out and offered it to him.

Summer looked around. Everyone was standing. And if he sat down, he'd be the only one seated. Feeling awkward, he waved a hand dismissively. "I'm fine standing. Let's just get to the story."

Black grinned. "Alright, listen up. The story of the meteorite begins about two hundred years ago…"

Back then, a small group of scattered settlements stood near the forest. The villagers lived peacefully, relying on the land's rich natural resources to sustain themselves. But one day, their peace was shattered. A meteor descended from the sky, blazing with an eerie purple light before crashing into the center of the forest.

At least, that's how most people told the story. Some claimed there wasn't just one meteor—but two. According to them, a blue meteor and a red meteor fell together, intertwining as they streaked across the sky. The purple glow, they believed, was merely the result of two different lights blending together. Regardless of the details, the meteor (or meteors) struck the heart of the forest with an earth-shaking impact.

The explosion should have set the entire forest ablaze—but strangely, it didn't. Just moments after impact, a torrential downpour swept through the forest, extinguishing the flames before they could spread. Later, when the rain had cleared, a few brave villagers ventured toward the crater to investigate. That's when they realized the truth.

The impact site was no ordinary crater. The meteorite had struck a hidden underground water source, rupturing it upon impact. Now, endless streams of water poured from the wound in the earth, flooding the crater and forming a vast, newly born lake.

At first, the villagers rejoiced. They finally had a stable source of freshwater—no more long, treacherous journeys to distant rivers. But their joy was short-lived. A thick mist soon enveloped the entire forest. The once-familiar paths became treacherous, and wild Pokémon grew hostile and unpredictable.

Still, desperation outweighed fear—the villagers needed water. So they braved the fog and ventured toward the lake. That was when they saw them.

Two enormous wolves.

The details were hazy. By the time their ancestors fled the forest in terror, all they could remember was that the wolves were terrifying. They abandoned their homes overnight, gathering their families and leaving the cursed forest behind.

"…That's everything I learned from the old folks," Black admitted. "But I can give you a clearer description of the two beasts—I've seen them myself."

Summer's expression remained calm, but inwardly, his thoughts were racing.

"One had a deep blue coat, its fur streaked with scars, and two long crimson braids trailing from its mane," Black continued, frowning as if recalling a nightmare. "The other was crimson red, with similar scars, but its fur spiked upward in jagged blue tufts."

Summer's hands clenched instinctively. Because he already knew exactly who those two wolves were.

Zacian. Zamazenta.

And now, there was no doubt in his mind—they, too, had come from the stars.