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

He had always been careful, every step measured, every move deliberate. But one day, in the blink of an eye, all that caution became meaningless.

The truck appeared out of nowhere, its massive wheels screeching against the asphalt as it barreled toward him. There was no time to react, no time to think. The impact was brutal, the sound of metal colliding with bone deafening.

And then, nothing.

A sudden, jarring stillness wrapped around him, and Noctis felt himself... falling, though there was no ground beneath him. He was weightless, lost in the vast expanse of infinite space. Stars shimmered in the distance like scattered diamonds, but they seemed too far to reach, too distant to matter.

Time no longer made sense. It felt as if he was suspended in eternity itself.

He floated—or perhaps he drifted. It didn't matter—his mind struggled to comprehend what had just happened. One moment, he was alive, and the next, he was... here. But where was here? There was no warmth, no sound. Just the cold, infinite void around him, stretching in all directions.

In front of him, a glowing portal appeared, pulsating with an otherworldly light. Hesitantly, he approached it, every instinct urging him to reach out. But then he froze. Wait—did he even have hands?

Looking down at himself, his form was barely visible—more like a shadow than a person. He was a faint, incorporeal shape, shimmering in an eerie shade of purple like a wisp of smoke, a ghostly presence both there and not at the same time.

Suddenly, the void around him shifted. Before him stood a wall of purple light, stretching infinitely in all directions, casting a soft, ethereal glow across the emptiness. The wall pulsed with energy, but no matter how he moved, it remained unyielding.

he turned in every direction, looking for an escape. Up, down, left, right—nothing. There was no door, no way out. Just the endless expanse of the purple wall and the oppressive black void. The more he tried to understand, the more hopeless it all felt.

In desperation, he reached out, his trembling form brushing against the wall. The moment he made contact, a strange warmth surged through him, and for a fleeting instant, he thought he saw something—a path, a way forward. But just as quickly, it vanished, leaving him in the unyielding darkness once more.

Before he could process what had just happened, everything shifted again.

he gasped, his chest heaving with breath, his heart racing. He was back.

Wait—who is Noctis? he thought, disoriented. Ah, it's me. But... who am I?

Confused, he shook his head, trying to clear the fog in his mind. As the haze began to lift, he realized he was no longer in that endless, empty space.

It was an alleyway—cool and damp beneath his feet, the faint sound of distant voices carrying through the air. The heavy weight of confusion pressed down on him. Was it all just a dream?

He staggered to his feet, his hands trembling slightly as he pushed himself upright. His fingers brushed against the cold stone wall, grounding him in this new reality. His chest tightened, his breath shallow as he collected himself.

He pushed himself out of the alley, trying to make sense of what was happening. The bustling world outside seemed so... real. So alive. But the disorienting, otherworldly sensations still clung to him, like remnants of a dream that refused to fade.

Noctis stood at the edge of the bustling marketplace, the cool breeze sweeping through the air, carrying the mingling scents of freshly baked bread, roasting meats, and damp cobblestones. His lavender eyes swept across the crowd, the vibrant hum of the city filling his senses, yet something about the scene felt wrong—almost as if it were both familiar and alien at once. The weight of the unknown pressed down on him, heavy and constant, like a shadow that refused to leave. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, feeling the gritty texture of the street beneath his boots, grounding him in a world that seemed to stretch infinitely before him.

As Noctis wandered through the bustling city, keeping close to the alleyway he had emerged from, the cheerful laughter of children caught his attention. Across the street, opposite the fountain at the city's center, he noticed a group of noblemen's children practicing magic. Some conjured fire and wind, while others struggled with their mana manipulation, their faces contorted in intense concentration.but wasn't using magic in the city forbidden or is it only for xyrus city , and why do I know it ?where is this knowledge coming from?.

A strange, tingling sensation stirred in his chest, as if he could sense faint crackles of mana dancing through the air—an echo of power that sent a hum of familiarity through his veins. It was subtle, yet undeniably present, like an instinct he couldn't explain. Even without a mana core, he could feel the currents of magic pulsing around him, responding to the gentle sway of his will. His affinity for mana was strong—almost unnervingly so. It felt like he could feel and understand the movement of mana particles within his body, more clearly than anyone around him. He was able to manipulate and control the energy with a precision that surprised even him. He could control mana far better than Arthur, his latent affinity allowing him to shape it almost instinctively.

What is this? Noctis wondered, his fingers twitching, responding instinctively to the magic pulsing around the noblemen's children. Compelled by something he couldn't explain, he stepped closer.

"Hey there, having some trouble?" Noctis asked, his voice steady despite the confusion swirling in his mind. What am I doing, and again where is this knowledge coming from?

The children, no older than twelve, froze. Their eyes widened with a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. After a brief pause, they nodded.

"Mind if I give you a tip?" Noctis stood beside them, offering a smile. His small stature and youthful appearance seemed to surprise them—his short black hair and lavender eyes giving him an air of both innocence and strange wisdom. "Visualize the mana as a gentle stream. Don't force it; just guide it."

They exchanged a glance and then, with closed eyes, followed his advice. Noctis's heart skipped a beat as the flow of their mana smoothed. He observed with wide eyes as the water-element magic of the child in front of him improved at a visible rate, the magic humming in harmony. "That's it! You've got it!" he cheered, pride swelling in his chest. The small victory felt surprisingly real, but as soon as it bloomed, a sharp sense of unease took root.

An older mage, positioned a short distance behind the group of noblemen children—clearly serving as their guard—approached with measured steps. His eyes narrowed, a blend of curiosity and suspicion flickering within them. The instant Noctis noticed him, the atmosphere shifted, growing heavier, as if the world itself had paused to observe. The mage's gaze fixated on Noctis's lavender irises, and the unsettling sensation of being truly seen sent his pulse into a quickened rhythm. He straightened instinctively, suddenly self-conscious and acutely aware of how his small stature contrasted starkly with the mage's imposing presence.

"I hope I didn't overstep," Noctis muttered, his voice edged with unease. "I just wanted to help."

The mage studied him closely, his expression unreadable. His eyes flicked over Noctis's short stature, the way his features were still soft and youthful. He looked to be no more than five years old, yet spoke with a confidence beyond his years. "Is... something wrong?" Noctis asked, a knot tightening in his stomach.

"No," the mage replied, his tone calm but guarded. "Nothing's wrong… Just curious." His eyes flicked back to Noctis's lavender eyes, and something flickered in their depths—a flash of recognition, perhaps? "It's not every day I see someone so... young with eyes like yours."

Noctis shifted uncomfortably under the mage's scrutiny, the words scratching at his consciousness. Eyes like mine? A flash of confusion clouded his thoughts. Was there something wrong with him, something the mage saw that he didn't understand?

"Hi. I'm Noctis," he offered hesitantly, his voice faltering as he tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. "I'm... new around here."

The mage's brow furrowed slightly, a glimmer of something—concern, suspicion, or maybe something else—crossing his face. "New, you say? That explains a lot… But how long have you been here? I've never seen you before."

Noctis hesitated, his mind fogged by fragments of memories that slipped away like water through his fingers. "Not long. I just woke up... in the middle of the alleyway near the marketplace."

Shit! Noctis thought, his stomach twisting the moment the words left his mouth.

The mage's gaze softened, though a hint of wariness still lingered in his eyes. "Waking up...?" His brow arched as he repeated the words, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the hilt of his staff. After a brief pause, his voice took on a more measured tone.

"Tell me, Noctis, do you have any prior experience with magic?"

The question hit him like a punch to the gut. Noctis blinked, startled by the directness of it. Magic? He glanced over at the children still practicing with their mana. Their expressions were now filled with triumph, their little hands glowing faintly with the power they'd just learned to control. He opened his mouth, unsure of how to answer, but the truth—however muddled—escaped his lips. "I've always been fascinated by magic," he said slowly, trying to sound confident despite the gnawing doubt in his chest. "But I never really learned much. Just bits and pieces here and there."

The mage's lips curled into a small smile, but something deeper—almost predatory—lingered in his eyes. "Interesting…" His voice dropped to a near-whisper, as though he were speaking more to himself than to Noctis. "You've only just begun, and yet there's something about you. Something beyond ordinary."

His gaze lingered on Noctis a moment longer, calculating. Should I take him to the seller? the mage wondered, the thought slithering through his mind. They'd pay good money for someone like him.

Noctis swallowed, trying to steady his breath as the unease surged within him. His fingers curled involuntarily at his sides, the muscles in his body tense. Could it be true? His mind raced with a hundred possibilities. Could he really possess some kind of latent power?

The mage's gaze felt like it was peeling back layers, probing the raw, untapped potential that hummed beneath his skin—a sensation that both terrified and exhilarated him. No, Noctis told himself, his thoughts sharpening. Focus. Don't get swayed by his words.

The mage's next words seemed almost inevitable. "It's rare to find someone with such raw power and no defined path... It's like a blank slate, but every blank slate has its own possibilities." He stepped closer, his tone measured and persuasive. "Come with me to the Mage's Guild. I'll help you hone your abilities, but I need to see if you truly possess the potential I think you do."

In the back of his mind, a darker thought began to form. I'll send him to the seller at the black market. It's quite profitable there these days. His lips twitched in a barely perceptible smirk.

The mage's words hung in the air—an offer of training, power, and perhaps answers to the storm of questions swirling in Noctis's mind. The thought of unraveling the mysteries of magic was intoxicating, tugging at something buried deep within him.

But... was there something like a mage's guild? The question flickered, unbidden, through his thoughts. It felt out of place, like a memory that didn't quite fit—another thread in the tangle of identities he couldn't seem to unravel.

Then, something inside him recoiled. What does he really want from me?

Noctis's hand curled into a fist at his side, his heart pounding as doubt crept in. Was this a lifeline—or a trap? The mage's piercing gaze seemed to strip him bare, as though he already knew the secrets Noctis fought to keep buried.

"Sorry," Noctis muttered, his voice laced with hesitation. "I've got my own path to follow."

Yeah, I'm not falling for that.

Without another word, he turned, heading toward the fountain, slipping into the crowd. The pressure on his chest lifted slightly, but a new, heavier tension clung to him. What was I thinking? His heart raced as he quickened his pace, the rhythm of his footsteps matching the pounding of his mind.

Alone in a narrow alleyway, Noctis pressed his back against the cold stone wall, trying to steady his breath. The city pulsed around him, a labyrinth of possibilities he couldn't yet navigate. How did I get here? The question gnawed at him, deeper now than ever before.

He glanced up at the stars beginning to twinkle overhead as the sun set, their cold, distant light offering no answers. The marketplace seemed a world away, and yet... it wasn't. It was all real—magic, mana, cores, affinities. He recited the stages of a mana core under his breath—black, red, orange, yellow, silver, white, then integration phase and there's aether—the words a comfort, something solid to grasp onto. Realizing this is the world.

"Wait," he whispered to himself, a spark of thought igniting in his mind. "If aether exists here... could I use it?"

But the excitement was fleeting, quickly swallowed by caution. No. I have to understand mana first, he thought, his pulse quickening. The unfamiliar power he had felt from those children in the alleyway was gone now, leaving only a strange emptiness.

He tried to focus, attempting to create his mana core in that exact moment. He felt the subtle shift of mana particles gathering toward the center of his chest, and for a brief instant, he grinned. But the smile quickly faded. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy.

A sudden growl from his stomach reminded him of his pressing need. He hadn't eaten since... he couldn't even remember.

As Noctis wandered through the smaller shopping area of the city, his eyes landed on a stall run by an elderly lady. The scent of cold bread, roasted meat and boiled eggs filled the cool night air, and his stomach twisted painfully with hunger.

With a sigh, he crept toward the food stall, each step weighed down by the growing knot in his gut. He hadn't intended to steal. But in the silence of the night, with nothing else to rely on, he felt he had no choice.

His fingers brushed the warm food, and he quickly grabbed what he could, preparing to flee. But just as he turned, the woman running the stall cried out.

"Thief! Stop that boy!"

Heart pounding, Noctis bolted, the stolen meal gripped tightly in his hands. He dashed through the narrow streets, slipping into the shadows before scrambling up to a flat rooftop of an abandoned house. Once there, he collapsed onto the cold surface, the adrenaline of the chase still pulsing through his veins. Hunger, however, soon overtook him. He devoured the meal roasted meat and boiled eggs, the quiet of the night offering only his breath and the soft sounds of the city below, a stark contrast to the chaos of his escape.

"What am I doing?" he murmured, staring at the food in his hands. "This isn't who I want to be in this world."

The stars above twinkled serenely, and Noctis closed his eyes, a breath of resolve filling his chest. "Patience. Determination. And a little bit of luck." The words echoed softly, a promise to himself. He wasn't running away anymore. He was stepping forward, choosing a different path—one where he could finally carve out his future.

And with that thought, the soft glow of mana flickered to life in his hands once more, a reminder of the power he had yet to understand, and the destiny he was starting to claim.