Another Beginning After The End - A TBATE Fanfiction(re-written)

As the first light of dawn spilled across the horizon, Helen set off toward the distant Twin Horns, her steps purposeful and measured. Noctis, however, lingered behind, making his way toward the bustling marketplace from the rooftop. His senses had sharpened since his first capture last time, a haunting memory that still clung to the edges of his mind. With a practiced eye, he scanned the surroundings, every corner scrutinized with precision, ensuring that his identity remained concealed. The art of remaining unseen had become second nature to him, and he chose stores where his face was unknown, minimizing the risk of unwanted attention.

Noctis moved through the marketplace with quiet confidence, heading toward the farthest edge, where the sweet scent of freshly baked bread and ripe fruit hung in the air. Despite his newfound wealth—far beyond what most could ever dream of—he remained cautious with his spending. His priorities had shifted over time, and luxury was no longer a temptation. Though he now had enough to live comfortably for years, he clung to a modest lifestyle, finding peace in simplicity.

The events of the previous day weighed heavily on his mind, but today, he had received something of personal importance—his Aunt Lensa's belongings. She had been an Augmenter, a water mage with the ability to manipulate water mana. His fingers grazed the worn leather cover of her diary, each page filled with detailed accounts of her studies and unique combat techniques. "So this is her diary?" he muttered softly to himself, the words reverberating quietly in the stillness of the rooftop as he absorbed the knowledge within.

The diary spoke of her deep passion for water magic, her rigorous studies, and the way she had mastered her abilities. Notes on spells, techniques, and applications in battle filled the pages, and as Noctis read, he couldn't help but feel a profound sense of awe toward his aunt's skill and relentless dedication. Gently, he set the diary aside and turned his attention to the heavy leather bag at his side—the source of his wealth. It contained a fortune of mostly copper coins, nearly a thousand in total. Yet, amid the sea of copper, thirty silver coins and three gold ones stood out. Noctis chuckled quietly, a grin tugging at his lips. "Well, looks like my haul was quite rich, huh?" His smile lingered, though he knew it was the security this newfound wealth provided that mattered most.

Yesterday, he had received six silver coins from Adam, and now, with his total estimate nearing over 3.4 gold, Noctis found himself in a position to live comfortably for the foreseeable future. His thoughts briefly drifted to his own path—one shaped by choices and circumstances—and he couldn't help but wonder where it would lead him next.

His fingers then found their way to the pocket of his pants, where a few copper coins rested. The heavy leather bag containing his wealth—mostly copper coins, numbering close to a thousand—was stored on the rooftop. As his mind wandered, he recalled a moment from his past, perhaps from another life or a memory buried deep within his subconscious. He remembered a conversation from *The Beginning After The End* (TBATE), where the currency system had been explained—copper, silver, gold, and the rare white-gold tablets. Copper coins were the most common, silver a step up, and gold was considered a substantial sum.

Noctis chuckled to himself, thinking, "In the Kingdom of Sapin, a family could survive on just a few copper coins a day." The weight of his riches didn't faze him; his focus wasn't on luxury or opulence but something far more important. "Helen must've exchanged some silver coins for copper to avoid suspicion," Noctis mused, impressed by the subtlety of his aunt's companion's actions. He appreciated her caution.

His thoughts shifted back to his original purpose for being in the marketplace—buying bread and fruit. After purchasing the essentials, he continued to walk through the city, his mind wandering to deeper questions. What did fighting really mean? He had already begun his training in Sun Breathing, but swordsmanship was a different discipline entirely. The techniques seemed more complex, requiring more than just physical strength and stamina. Noctis had always known that fighting wasn't simply about brute force. It was about strategy, precision, and understanding. 

He recalled a vague memory, perhaps from his past life or something he had once seen in an anime, about the nature of combat. "Fighting isn't just a clash of fists or blades," he thought to himself. "It's about asserting dominance, protecting something important, or achieving a goal." Fighting took on many forms, he realized. It could be raw and chaotic, like street fights, or disciplined and calculated, like martial arts or combat sports. Yet, it wasn't always destructive. Sometimes, it was a means of expressing oneself or bringing fairness to a world rife with injustice.

As Noctis continued his walk, his thoughts deepened. He understood now that fighting wasn't just about strength, speed, or power. It was about observation. It was about reading an opponent's movements—the subtle shifts in their weight, the way their stance changed in response to your own actions. Timing was critical, he thought. Knowing when to strike, when to dodge, when to conserve energy. In swordsmanship, the grip was paramount. A firm yet flexible hold would turn the blade into an extension of the body, almost as if it were an additional limb.

"In hand-to-hand combat, the stance is just as important," Noctis thought, mentally practicing the moves. "Guarding high and low, targeting weak points, incapacitating without unnecessary risk." He envisioned the techniques, feeling the fluidity in his mind even as he walked. Fighting wasn't about reacting impulsively—it was about strategy, staying calm, and staying one step ahead of the opponent.

His musings were interrupted as he stood near the pub again, the same place where he had received crucial information in the past. Noctis watched people come and go, absorbed in the flow of life around him. His thoughts kept drifting back to his training, to everything he had learned so far. He listened to the conversations inside the pub, snippets of chatter floating out into the street, as the sun began its descent. Just as he was about to leave, his ears caught something that made him pause. A conversation between two city guards, their voices filled with urgency.

"Hey, let's go quickly, or the captain will punish us."

The other guard responded nonchalantly, "Don't worry, we still have some time." 

The mention of a training ground piqued Noctis's interest. He had been hoping to find a place where combat training was being conducted. His curiosity getting the better of him, he decided to follow the guards, his movements deliberate and cautious. He kept a safe distance, ensuring that he wouldn't be noticed as he trailed them through the streets.

After a while, they arrived at a large training area surrounded by high walls. Noctis quickly found a tree and climbed it, settling into the branches for a better view. Below, the training grounds stretched far beyond what Noctis had anticipated. The sound of soldiers grunting and the rhythmic thud of their feet against the dirt filled the air. The muscular captain, standing tall with broad shoulders and a stern face, barked orders with authority, his voice cutting through the noise.

"Faster! Push through the pain! This is about strength, endurance, and perseverance!" His commands rang out like a drumbeat, and the soldiers, drenched in sweat, obeyed without hesitation. Their bodies strained with each motion as they carried out grueling tasks: hauling heavy logs, running obstacle courses, and lifting weights far heavier than any average soldier would ever encounter. No weapons were drawn, no swords swung—this was a test of their raw physical might.

Noctis, observing from his high vantage point, furrowed his brow in discontent. The lack of combat drills left him feeling detached, disconnected from the purpose he had come for. His mind wandered, imagining the thrill of a real fight, the clash of steel against steel, the rush of adrenaline that came with facing a worthy opponent. Instead, he watched as the soldiers labored through the grueling tasks, their muscles screaming with effort.

The captain paced back and forth, occasionally barking encouragement or giving stern corrections. "You think you're tired? You think you've hit your limit? You haven't! Keep going!" he shouted, his booming voice a constant motivator. His presence alone seemed to energize the troops, driving them to push through their exhaustion. Noctis's disappointment was palpable. Maybe next time, he thought, disheartened.

As the sun sank lower, casting long shadows over the city, Noctis reluctantly left the training ground and made his way home. His simple rooftop abode awaited him, the worn blanket and pillow he had salvaged from a dump site offering little comfort but enough to get by. He ate the bread and grilled meat he had bought earlier, savoring the warmth of the food in contrast to the cool evening air.

Noctis stood at the edge of the rooftop, his mind clearing as he began his training routine. He took a deep breath, entering the familiar rhythm of Sun Breathing's Total Concentration Breathing technique. His body flowed through each motion with practiced precision, pushing his limits as always. Alongside his breathing exercises, he performed his usual physical workout: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and a 10-kilometer run. The night city bustled below, but he focused solely on the task at hand.

The run, which once seemed insurmountable, now took him nearly an hour to complete—a remarkable improvement compared to his first attempt six months ago. His endurance had grown substantially, and a sense of quiet pride filled him as he finished the route.

With the physical exercises behind him, Noctis settled back onto the rooftop, the cool night air soothing his tired muscles. He closed his eyes and began focusing on his mana core formation. Drawing on the power of Sun Breathing's Total Concentration, he used it to accelerate his mana core's development. The technique sharpened his mental fortitude and amplified his focus, allowing him to mold his core with greater precision and speed.

After two hours of intense concentration, Noctis opened his eyes. His mana core had grown, the percentage rising from 75% to 76%. Though it seemed like a small increase, it was rare for his progress to be this fast. He couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at the result.

Exhausted but content, Noctis stretched out on the rooftop, feeling the weight of the day slowly drift away. Tomorrow was another day of training, but for now, rest was all he needed. He closed his eyes and let sleep take him, knowing that each step forward, no matter how small, brought him closer to his goals.Exhausted but content, Noctis stretched out on the rooftop.

As Noctis lay down, his thoughts swirled. There was so much to process—yesterday's events and today's encounters lingered vividly in his mind, especially the incident with the kids. While he was out doing his running exercises, he had noticed a boy attempting to tail him. He recognized the boy as one of the children who often lingered in the alleyway near his house—the rooftop of an abandoned building he had claimed as his own refuge.

What truly caught him off guard, however, was another kid—the same one who had stolen Adam's money bag the day before. Noctis had helped Adam recover the stolen bag by tracking down its hiding spot. Now, it seemed these kids were seeking revenge.

"Looks like they're holding a grudge," he mused. But with his sharp instincts and quick thinking, Noctis had easily outsmarted them, shaking them off his trail without breaking a sweat.

"Now that I think about it, there are gangs of kids around here. It's like they have their own territories," Noctis thought. "Whatever. I'll see what happens."

As he reflected on the day's encounters and the uncertainty of the journey ahead, a small sense of peace settled over him. Tomorrow was another day, and with it, more lessons to learn. He closed his eyes, embracing the quiet, letting the weight of the day drift away as sleep began to take hold.