Inlander

Falling Meteor

The morning sun stretched lazily across the horizon, bathing Eastend in its amber glow. The town stirred with quiet life— the murmur of merchants preparing their wares, the rhythmic clinking of armour as patrols changed shifts.

Inside room nine of the Raca-Rac Inn, Jim Slavn lay tangled in the sheets, his body heavy with fatigue. Sleep had been a rare luxury in recent days, and the soft mattress had embraced him like an old friend. But then—

Knock. Knock.

A sharp rapping at the door pulled him from the depths of his slumber. Jim groaned, rubbing his face as he muttered groggily, "Jill… it’s too bloody early. Go back to sleep—we barely get beds as it is."

A familiar laugh rang from beyond the door. "Hah! I’d expect that attitude from a soldier fresh off the field, but not from you, Jim. Get up—it’s me, Gristie."

Jim’s eyes snapped open. His face burned with embarrassment as realisation struck. He swung his legs over the bedside and ran a hand through his tousled hair. "Damn it…" he muttered before calling back, "Give me a moment, Gris. Order breakfast, we’ll be right there."

"Aye, aye," she responded, her voice laced with amusement. "But hurry. I’ve got something important to discuss."

Gristie left to the common hall, and Jim, now fully awake, turned to rouse his sister. He found Jill already sitting up, stretching with a yawn.

"Looks like you’re up before me, for once," Jim remarked with a smirk.

Jill shrugged. "It’s not every day we sleep in a proper bed."

With that, the siblings quickly freshened up and made their way downstairs.

The Raca-Rac’s dining hall was lively even at this hour. The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the rich aroma of sizzling meats. The air buzzed with the chatter of merchants, travellers, and a few off-duty guards nursing their morning ales.

Jim, Jill, and Gristie sat at a corner table, their plates laden with eggs, roasted tomatoes, and thick cuts of smoked ham. As they ate, Gristie set her fork down and leaned forward.

"Jim, when do you plan to set off?"

Jim wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "As soon as we can. Centrical City’s a week’s ride from here, give or take, and I don’t intend to waste time."

Gristie hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Then can I ask you a favour? Before you leave, I need you to meet someone."

Jim narrowed his eyes. "Who?"

"Captain D’Brieck."

Jim raised an eyebrow. "A captain wants to meet me?"

Gristie nodded. "Aye. He heard about you yesterday and was rather… insistent. He’s not the type you refuse, Jim."

Jim sighed, sensing there was little choice in the matter. "Alright, Gris. I’ll meet him."

Gristie grinned. "I was hoping you’d say that."

After finishing their meal, Jim made his way to the counter, handing a few coins to Drienne.

After finishing their meal, Jim made his way to the counter, handing a few coins to Drienne.

"Thanks for breakfast, Drienne," he said.

The young waitress adjusted her glasses and gave a warm smile. "Are you lot heading out already?"

"Aye, long road ahead."

"Well, if you ever pass through Eastend again, be sure to drop by."

Jim nodded. "You have my word."

Jill and Gristie waved as they left, and Drienne returned the gesture with a smile.

The captain’s office was just a short walk from the inn, situated near Eastend’s barracks. The building was simple but sturdy, constructed of thick timber with a roof of black slate. A worn iron emblem, bearing the insignia of Eastend’s garrison, hung above the entrance.

Gristie led them through the hallways, stopping before a solid door. She knocked twice.

"Knock. Knock."

Jim smirked. "You do love knocking on doors, don’t you?"

Gristie shot him a glare but said nothing.

From within, a deep, gravelly voice called out, "Who’s there?"

"It’s Gristie, Captain. I’ve brought Jim Slavn with me."

Silence. Then, the sound of hurried footsteps.

The door swung open, and standing before them was Captain D’Brieck Weger.

He was a man of solid build, stocky but powerful, standing at six feet one. His hair, once black, had turned stark white with age, cut short in a no-nonsense style. A thin beard traced his jawline, and a pair of round spectacles sat on the bridge of his nose. Despite his age, his posture was that of a man still in his prime.

A sly grin curled his lips as he looked Jim up and down. "So, you’re the infamous Jim Slavn."

Then, without warning—he moved.

In a blur of motion, D’Brieck launched himself forward, leaping into the air with surprising agility. His right fist ignited with roaring flames, the heat distorting the air around it.

"FALLING METEOR!" he bellowed, bringing his burning fist crashing down toward Jim.

Jim’s heart pounded. His instincts screamed at him to move, but his body couldn’t keep up. The sheer speed of the attack left him frozen.

BOOOOOM!

The floor exploded beneath him, sending debris flying. The sheer force sent Jill and Gristie skidding backward, barely keeping their balance.

[Yamaguchi: Active]

[Yamaguchi skill experience increased.]

[Yamaguchi (Passive) Lvl 2 (50/500)]

By some miracle—Jim was unharmed. His passive ability had activated, dispersing the force of the blow. But he remained rooted to the spot, sweat trickling down his brow.

Captain D’Brieck scowled, cracking his knuckles. "Hmph. Lucky. But let’s see if you can handle this one."

He leapt again, this time higher, his left fist glowing hotter than before.

"HOOOOOOOWAAAAA… FALLING METEOR!"

The second punch slammed into the floor with even greater force. The very walls trembled, and the office door flew off its hinges.

Jim’s pulse raced. "Bloody hell, what kind of lunatic is this!?"

And yet, once again—

[Yamaguchi: Active]

—his skill had saved him.

D’Brieck burst into laughter, slapping a hand on Jim’s shoulder. "Bwahaha! You’re exactly as I was told. Solid, unmoving—like a boulder in a storm."

Jim exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Lucky I’ve got that skill, or I’d be a pile of ashes."

Gristie, now standing, stormed up to D’Brieck and slapped him hard on the head.

"CAPTAIN! You’re joking too much!"

"Hahahaha, come now, Gristie. I knew he could handle it."

Gristie’s face turned red with frustration. Meanwhile, Jim helped Jill up, muttering, "This is the maddest welcome I’ve ever had."

D’Brieck grinned. "Alright, alright, enough fun. Come inside. We have much to discuss."

With little choice, Jim and the others followed him in, still shaken by the fiery introduction.

Whatever this meeting was about… it was bound to be interesting.