Chapter 6: Received an Ancient Fanboy!!

Ancient Times

Ironhold City – A Thin Alley Close to the City Gate

Lucy Hartwell stood silently, her body held steady under a tattered cloth umbrella. Her black hair was done up, face lightly painted—elegant, serene, and misplaced among stone and dust. In the proper light, she might be confused with a noblewoman from a painting.

Her younger brother stood beside her, fidgeting from one foot to another.

"Lucy, it’s half an hour. What if he’s not coming? Did he forget?"

Nathan Hartwell, seventeen, agitated and always a breath from pacing, scowled down the vacant end of the alley. His shirt stuck with perspiration, his boots were dirty, and his arms were folded in frustration.

Yesterday, Lucy had come home with something remarkable—clean water.

During a famine and drought year, that wasn’t just precious—nearly miraculous.

And when she explained to her family that she had purchased it from a stranger in odd attire, their reactions were disbelief to interest. Nathan, naturally, had insisted on coming along.

Lucy, finally wearied of torment, acquiesced.

They stood waiting now, but the "oddly dressed water-vender" hadn’t appeared.

"Just wait," Lucy murmured. "He may be late. Something may have come up."

"We’ll wait. You can go home if you need to hurry."

Nathan grumped but remained silent. They needed this. Clean water was no longer a luxury—it was survival.

Besides, Lucy had a vivid memory of the young man. Prominent features. Clear eyes. Unusual clothing. He did not seem the kind of man to break promises.

Nathan jumped up and gestured down the road.

"Lucy, look!" Nathan prodded her hard and gestured down the alleyway. "That man—his attire is strange. Is that the guy you mentioned to me?"

Lucy followed her gaze, her eyes narrowing.

Across the way, Alex was coming down the alley, both arms bulging with the weight of two heavy wooden crates, water splashing with each step. His attire looked like a sore thumb in Ironhold. His hair glistened with sweat, and his face was set in pure regret.

"If I ever catch up with my past self," Alex growled, "I’m punching him right in the face."

"Ten blocks. With this much weight. And for what? A meeting spot with no name, no landmark... just an alley."

He scanned the identical stone walls and twisting paths, all blending together like a maze carved from boredom.

"Seriously, how do people live like this? No signs. No maps. Just. rocks."

He trudged on, his sigh heavy with frustration.

At least this part was familiar.

Each time he came back to this world, he reappeared in the same location—like being plopped back into a game save that refused to be altered. It was predictable. Unshakeable.

Incredibly frustrating.

But as he turned the last corner and saw Lucy—standing there, umbrella clutched in her hand, as serene as ever—and the wide-eyed boy beside her, something in him unwound.

He smiled weakly through the fatigue.

"Yep. This is the right alley."

"Sorry I’m late," Alex said, approaching Lucy and placing the two crates down with a thud.

"These alleys all look the same. I got lost three times before turning up in the spot we planned on."

"Haha, that makes sense," Nathan said with a chuckle. "I used to get lost all the time too—until I began running around here with my friends causing trouble."

He winked Alex playfully. "But you’re just like Lucy said—bizarre clothing, bizarre tone. and, well, rather annoyingly handsome."

Lucy flushed in a second and shot a warning glare at her brother.

"Nathan, come on!"

"This is my little brother," she hurried to say, embarrassed. She was talking too quickly. "He has nothing to say. Don’t mind him."

Alex laughed, looking at the boy.

"Nathan, yeah? Nice name. Sound one." He had a friend like that named Nathan.

But then his focus wandered back to Lucy. She was... different today. A little more put together. A little more refined. The way the sun shone on her—she nearly looked like something from a dream.

He blinked.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Lucy asked softly, her flush deepening with his attention.

Before Alex could even reply, Nathan jumped in with a big smile:

"What do you think? You wouldn’t believe how many guys come through asking to marry my sister. She’s sort of a big deal."

"Nathan!" Lucy hissed, embarrassed. "If you just keep your mouth shut, I’m not talking to you for a week!"

The boy grinned and pretended to zip his lips closed.

Alex cleared his throat and attempted to regain his poise.

"Right. Business first."

He knelt and flung open the crates. Within: twenty-four sealed bottles of pure, clear mineral water.

"Two full boxes this time."

Lucy’s eyes widened.

She’d thought he might bring a few bottles again—just enough to make a point. But this? This would be enough for days, weeks perhaps.

"All this... is water?" she breathed in awe.

Even Nathan came forward, bewildered.

"That’s... that’s lots of water," he stammered. "Is all this for Dad?

Yesterday, he’d stolen a sip from the drained bottle their father had last finished. Only a few drops—but it had been clean, sweet, and fresher than anything he’d ever tasted.

Now, gazing at it in such profusion, it was un-real.

"I’ll sell all of these," Alex replied calmly.

"Sir, this is too much," Lucy hesitated. "I’m afraid we can’t afford to pay for all this water."

She rummaged through her handkerchief in embarrassment. There were seven or eight gold ingots the size of her thumbs inside.

Nathan looked at them and scowled. "Sis, that’s not going to do. That’s probably ten taels at best. In the black market, that amount of gold will get you perhaps five jugs of water. He’s got more than twenty here."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "If there’s a black market, why’d you come to me?

Lucy raised her head. "Because I want clean water. The stuff on the black market is revolting. Most of it’s either sewage or poorly filtered. You can’t even drink it."

Nathan continued, "Yeah, and stupidly expensive. Two taels per pot, and tastes like. horse piss. People still battle over it."

Alex’s eyes narrowed, ideas already brewing.

So the black market’s got demand... and no supply.

"Okay," Nathan told him, "I’ll give you both these boxes for free."

They both stared up at him in surprise.

"But there’s a catch," he went on, "I require two favors."

Nathan’s eyes flashed. "You’re serious? Man, you’re too generous—!"

He was just about to take hold of the boxes when Lucy threw him a look and he hesitated.

"What are the conditions?" she asked warily.

"Has to do with the black market, doesn’t it?

Alex nodded in a small way, impressed. "Didn’t even say it, and you figured it out."

Lucy didn’t answer, simply waited.

"It’s easy," Alex said. "One, find me a granary. Large one. Two, I want you to do the sale of the water for me at the black market."

"I get ninety percent, ten percent to you. Or," he added, "if you don’t need money, I’ll compensate you in water."

Nathan didn’t hesitate at all. "Done!"

Lucy hesitated, but the deal was too enticing.

They were having fresh water, and an opportunity to earn more. She agreed.

"This is perfect!" Nathan grinned.

"Don’t worry, sir—no matter how much water you’ve got, I’ll sell every drop. I might not have money, but I’ve got plenty of friends."

Lucy glared at him. "Yeah, friends you fight with every other day.".

Nathan chuckled. "They begin it!

Watching them bicker, Alex couldn’t help but smile. "Nathan, if you don’t want to get pushed around any more, come see me. I’ll do something for you."

"No way?" Nathan’s eyes opened wide.

He had never had anyone talk to him like that—particularly not anyone who actually seemed to mean what they said.

Alex talked to Lucy. "If you just keep trying to get him not to fight, it will make it worse. He’ll fight back harder.".

Lucy looked at the bruises on Nathan’s arm and nodded.

It’s worth teaching him. Show him when to fight, when to walk away—and how to defend the people he loves.

He hesitated, then continued, "Honestly, the best thing? Assist him in building his own strength. His own group. People follow that.

Nathan was incensed. "Exactly! That’s what I want!"

"Sir, please—teach me. I’ll do whatever you want!"

His eyes were burning with respect. By that point, Alex had earned himself a loyal follower.