Unfought Wars [Time loop Action Fantasy]

I hover down. The stuck-up guy is waiting for me below, and he waves a wand at me, making me drop to my feet to stand on the floor of the entrance hall. He pushes his hand out, and I place the visitor's pass on it.

He doesn't say anything, just turns his nose up and turns away. Whatever.

I grab my backpack and walk down the stairs slowly. I have no idea what awaits me outside the large front doors of the building. I've never walked through them before. But finding my way out of the city can't be that hard. I'll ask someone for directions, and it's not like I need anything for the trip. The way to the village takes a day, and I have enough expensive gear from the city to make this whole trip worth it.

Even if it didn't, I wouldn't care. I just want to get home. I realize I didn't get a letter from Lictor like the others. Maybe he's so angry at me. I remind myself I don't care.

The streets outside are busy for it being the night. People move and weave between carts moving boxes and sacks, a group of singing men stumble out of a tavern while guards watch everything from the street corners. I look at it all with eyes wide, before setting off. I'm heading north, but the night is dark, and I can't see the stars properly through the blue haze of the streetlights to see where I should be going.

I don't care. I take in the sights and smells of the city, wandering away and toward the walls rising in the distance. I'll get out, then figure out where I am. Or that's the plan, but the streets wind and snake like the person who built them was drunk. I get turned around and find myself back at the same large plaza that I already was at.

I look at the stupid balcony again, floating in the air above the plaza. Corum told me about it such a long time ago, but I didn't really believe or understand her at that time. It's a black silhouette against the dark blue clouds, rotating slowly in the air.

Wizards. I scoff and continue walking.

Finally, I have to admit I'm going to need some help. I'm somewhere I have never been before. There are fewer people around, and the first man I try to wave at just ignores me and walks past. I approach another man leaning his back into a streetlight. "Sorry, which way is the north gate?" I ask.

"I could draw you a map, but you're rather bad with them. Aren't you, Folke?" the man says. He looks up, and I recognize the dark beady eyes, the thinning hair, the lazy smile on his face.

Lictor wipes his brow and grins at me. "Sorry. The reaction is still worth it."

"What… do you want?" I ask. My heart thunders in my chest. It's him. For real. Is he going to kill me?

"I wanted to see you before you head home. You don't need to worry. My duty is to Tenorsbridge, and you have served her well. Maybe you will be needed again. I don't have the luxury of being petty."

For what it's worth, he doesn't look resentful when he says that. His eyes are dark marbles, but his face is soft, mouth pulled into an easy smile.

"Why weren't you at the party?" I ask.

He chuckles. "Can't you guess?"

"Ah, right. What did you write her?"

He chuckles again, but his eyes move to the side, like he's ashamed of something. "Well, nothing, to be honest. She never reads it. I'll talk to her later, once things have settled down."

I suspected as much, but that settles it. "You're still a Janitor," I say.

"At your service," he says, with a hint of a bow. "Tenorsbridge's first Janitor East. There's no need for a War Janitor anymore. Hopefully, never again."

Thoughts whiz in my head. Him in the forest—it was all a show, a lie. Played, yet again. And always.

And still, I got everything I wanted. The Kertharians are saved, Finna was saved. I have more unbelievable stories to tell than any of the ones that Gran told us. She's going to be so amazed. When I think of her, I remember a promise, made long ago.

"She just wants to see you get home. But I remembered, even if you didn't," Lictor says, offering me a small rectangular box. "Made by the best Kertharian glassworkers, before… well. The exact strength she needs."

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The box has hinges and I open it. As I expect, a pair of spectacles lies inside, on a glossy silk pillow. The rims look like they are made of gold. I snap the lid closed before I drop the box out of sheer shock.

"I really am sorry for what I put you all through," Lictor says. His face looks like he does, deep creases between his brows. He rubs at his forehead, hiding his eyes from me.

His hand drops, and the face behind it is hard. He looks at me from under his brows, his black eyes boring into mine. "It means very little for me to say it, especially as I would do it again." Lictor leans in closer, hissing the final words. "In a heartbeat. A heartbeat."

He straightens and a smile lights up his face. "Alas, such is my role and lot. You get to choose for yourself, so make it count. Won't you, Folke?"

I'm stunned, my mouth hanging open. I'm the boy who was taken from his home, confused and harried, out of his depth. I close my mouth and squint my eyes. "I will. As I already did."

His eyes flick back at me, the tiniest hint of frown on his face.

"The world is larger and weirder than you know. It's a day's journey to the village. Come visit us out there, sometime," I say.

Lictor's eyes widen and he wrinkles his nose. The muscles on his face shift. "No, that still gets me every time," he says after a moment. He sighs, a smile playing on his lips. "Maybe I will. It might do me good. Give my best to Finna, if you dare."

I blink at him, not knowing what to say about that.

Lictor nods at me and turns to go. After a couple of steps, he stops and turns around.

"Almost forgot," he says quietly. He looks at me and winks, face pulling to one side.

I raise my hand to throw the box at him, but he's already running and cackling as he does.

Damn this stupid place and him.

And I still don't know which way to go to get out.

Finally, the north gate looms before me, open and with no guards in sight. And why would there be, as the Janitors guard the city? I take a deep breath and walk toward it, as I hear a soft thump from behind me.

"Oh what now?" I manage to say, right as small arms wrap around my chest and pull me back with surprising force.

"Where are you going?" Finna asks, voice low.

A man dressed in wizard robes glances at us with a surprised look on his face, but then his eyes crinkle, and he smiles at me. The wizard continues walking slowly, watching me from the corner of his eyes.

I almost shout after him, asking him to stay in case I'm going to get stabbed. I place my hands on top of Finna's and squeeze them lightly. "Home, I need to get out of this place."

"Hmh," Finna says, letting go of me. She backs to lean on a streetlight, just like Lictor did earlier.

I hesitate for a moment, considering if I should tell her about Lictor, but Lictor can go to hell. His shadow stretched over everything that happened in Kerthar, and now I realize I never got out from under it. Every stupid moment in those dark corridors was because of him. I'm not going to let him taint this, as well. "I'm sorry I left without saying anything," I say.

"Nah, I get it. I stayed just long enough to hear what Astaroth had to say. I need to find something new to do."

I rub my chin, scratching at the beard. "Right, things have changed here."

I have no idea how to continue. The silence stretches for a moment.

"Look, I'm not good with this stuff," Finna says. "I think I need a moment. To get settled. Get used to real life again."

My face goes cold and I breathe out. It makes sense. It's not like I didn't try to just run out into the forest without even saying goodbye. "Yeah, I get that. Once I have seen everyone at the village is fine, maybe—"

I stop talking as Finna takes a step forward suddenly. She grabs my right hand, gripping it tightly. The fingers of her other hand dig into my hair as she pulls my head closer. Her temple touches mine and all I see are her dark, massive eyes in front of mine. "Get a damn shave," she says.

Then she kisses me, first lightly, then longer. Her lips are soft, and I touch the place where she's missing a molar with my tongue.

She pushes me away far too soon, chuckling in a low voice. "I'm going to go stab Lictor. You run home now, Big Foot. Come visit me later, you hear?"

I catch a glimpse of her eyes as they sparkle beneath her dark, thick hair. Her cheeks are rosy and I want to stay. Yet, there are people waiting for me home. More importantly, I need to find out if there are. I look back at her and nod, as seriously as I can. "I will. And you can come visit me as well."

"Hah, as if," she says, turning and waving a hand. "Never going to step out of the city again. See you!" she shouts, jumping and grabbing on to a windowsill. She pulls herself up and climbs the side of the building like a squirrel, vanishing to the roof. I hear her steps recede back toward the centre of the city.

"Never seen a person get so flustered they climb a wall to get out of the situation," the wizard says, chuckling. Seems they stopped to watch, after all. "Ah, to be young."

I blush and laugh. What else can I do?

He laughs back at me, eyes squinted in mirth.

A man drives a cart pulled by two oxen, smiling at us two as he goes past.

I turn to go, head feeling light and airy. For a moment, I can't hold together a single coherent thought. We were a great team, facing teratomes, taking down wizards. Her smarts, my plans. Yet, I don't know if that means anything here, in the real world. I'm a hunter from the forest, patiently taking my shot. She is like a forest fire, deceptively fast and dangerous.

I'm going to burn myself so bad, aren't I?

I pass below the gate as the first hints of dawn are breaking in the horizon. The sun rises to shine on all of us. Air feels clear and crisp. I think I can get home by nightfall if I hurry. Running across a familiar forest sounds perfect. No Kertharians. No responsibilities.

I've been gone for what feels like a lifetime. What will even wait for me back home? I feel the box in my pocket, its lacquer finish smooth and expensive.

At the end of the day, it's simple. Friends and family. Maybe I'll leave again, but before that, I need to go back.

It's time to go home.