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

As the Twin Horns settled into their rented quarters, the warm light of a single lantern cast flickering shadows across the room, lending an intimate glow to their gathering. The camaraderie of the adventurers filled the space, their voices weaving tales of past exploits and whispered dreams of what lay ahead. Noctis sat at the edge of the group, silent but attentive, his ears catching every word while his thoughts churned.

Helen sat upright, her posture composed, hands folded neatly in her lap. Her tone was measured, her words deliberate as she addressed Reynold. "Do you recall the dungeon near the Whispering Caverns? The one we narrowly escaped last year?"

Reynold chuckled, his deep voice resonating with warmth. "How could I forget? That cursed place nearly swallowed us whole. If it weren't for your calm guidance when the bridge collapsed, Helen, we'd be skeletons lining its halls."

Alice smirked, sipping her drink. "Calm guidance? More like divine intervention. You didn't see her face when the bridge gave out."

Helen arched an eyebrow at Alice, her expression serene with a flicker of amusement. "If I remember correctly, I wasn't the one screaming. And it worked, didn't it? That dungeon, however, is nothing compared to what lies ahead."

"Next?" Adam, ever-energetic and curious, perked up, his interest piqued. "Don't tell me we're heading back there. I've had my fill of shadow beasts, thank you very much."

"No," Reynold interjected, his tone turning serious. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "This is something different. Deeper. More dangerous. Have any of you heard of the Echoing Abyss?"

The room fell silent, the lighthearted atmosphere replaced by a hushed tension. Alice set her cup down slowly. "The Echoing Abyss? You're not serious."

"I wouldn't joke about something like this," Helen replied, her voice steady. "The rumors have been consistent—an ancient dungeon, its walls carved from obsidian that hums with a strange melody. The treasures inside are said to be as otherworldly as the place itself."

"And the dangers?" Alice pressed, her brow furrowed. "A place like that doesn't just hum for no reason."

Reynold nodded gravely. "The rumors speak of sentient traps, illusions vivid enough to drive a person mad, and guardians that defy even seasoned warriors. But the reward…" He let the words linger, his eyes glinting with the allure of the unknown.

Adam swallowed hard. "What kind of reward?"

"A relic," Reynold said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "An artifact believed to amplify mana tenfold. Imagine what we could achieve with that kind of power. It could change everything—for us and for those we protect."

Alice sighed, her fingers drumming against the table. "And it could just as easily kill us. Dungeons like these aren't meant to be trifled with. We've already lost too many good people."

"Which is why we prepare," Helen said firmly, her calm tone carrying an authority that silenced the lingering doubts. "This isn't a reckless dive. We'll gather intel, assemble the best gear, and plan for every contingency."

"And we won't be going alone," Reynold added. "The Black Ravens will join us. I've already spoken to their leader—he's fair and reliable. With their skills combined with ours, the risks are manageable."

Noctis shifted uncomfortably, the weight of their words pressing on him. He felt a pang of guilt, knowing more about their futures—and the looming war in a decade—than he could reveal. While the Echoing Abyss seemed perilous, he knew they could clear it without any loss. At least, if the future unfolded as he had remembered.

"Do you truly believe it's worth the risk?" Alice's voice softened, tinged with worry.

Reynold met her gaze, his expression earnest. "I do. If we don't try, someone else will—and they might not come back to warn others. We've faced worse together, Alice. This is no different."

A heavy silence hung over the group as they absorbed Reynold's words. Finally, Helen placed her hands on the table, her expression resolute. "If we're doing this, we commit. No half-measures. And let me make one thing clear: our lives come before any treasure. We do this smart, or we don't do it at all."

Laughter rippled through the room, lightening the mood. Noctis allowed himself a small smile, though his thoughts remained heavy. The Twin Horns spoke of danger and glory, yet all he could see was the fragile thread of their lives, dangling precariously over the precipice of the future war. Even if they survived now, how would they face the horrors to come?

As the group delved into logistical planning, Noctis's gaze wandered to the window, where the city's lights shimmered like distant stars. His mind drifted to his own predicament, the burden of foreknowledge weighing on him like an unspoken curse.

As twilight bled into night, the Twin Horns decided to move their camp to the city's outskirts. While the quarters offered comfort, their restless spirits craved the open skies and the familiarity of a crackling fire under the stars. The firelight danced on their faces, painting their features in shifting hues of orange and gold. It was in this intimate setting, the city's noise a distant hum, that Reynold and Alice turned their attention to Noctis, their expressions shadowed with an uncharacteristic seriousness. 

"Noctis," Reynold began, his voice low yet imbued with a tenderness that made the boy's chest tighten, "do you… do you know anyone named Lensa Vale?" 

The question struck Noctis like a blade. His body tensed involuntarily, his breath catching in his throat. He forced his face into a mask of indifference, but the flicker of shock in his eyes didn't escape the seasoned adventurers. Summoning every ounce of control, he shook his head. "No… I don't know her," he replied, his voice steady yet hollow, a brittle facade that felt like it might shatter under their gaze. 

Reynold and Alice exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them. There had been something about Noctis from the moment they met him—a haunting familiarity that neither could quite name. Reynold's expression softened with understanding, but Alice's sorrowful gaze seemed to pierce through Noctis's armor. 

"You remind us of her," Alice murmured, her voice trembling with the weight of unspoken memories. "Lensa… she was more than a comrade to us. She was family. Your face, your surname—it's uncanny." 

Noctis's chest constricted painfully. He averted his gaze, his heart pounding so fiercely it felt as though it might break free from his ribcage. He remembered Lensa all too well—the stories his mother had shared, the love and admiration that colored her every word. Lensa had been a beacon of strength and kindness in a world fraught with cruelty. Yet, Noctis couldn't reveal the truth. If they knew he was her nephew, they would surely keep him close—and he couldn't afford to let his presence alter the fragile threads of the future. 

"Who was she?" he asked quietly, his voice laced with a curiosity he didn't have to feign. It was safer to steer the conversation than to let it steer him. 

Alice's eyes glistened as she spoke, her words heavy with the ache of loss. "Lensa was one of us—a core member of the Twin Horns. She joined two years before her…" Her voice faltered, but she pressed on. "Before her end. She was strong, selfless, always putting others before herself. But during a raid by mana beasts, she was poisoned. We managed to save her life, but the poison… it crippled her mana core. She could never use magic again." 

The fire crackled, filling the silence that stretched after Alice's words. She lowered her gaze, her hands trembling slightly. "She couldn't bear it. Magic was her lifeblood, her identity. She went into a dungeon alone, hoping to find an end fitting for an adventurer. We tried to stop her, but she was determined. She…" Alice's voice broke, tears streaming down her face. "She never came back. That day, I promised myself I would never let fear or grief control my mana arts again. But the guilt… it never fades." 

The group sat in silence, the weight of the confession pressing down on them like a heavy shroud. Noctis stared into the fire, its flickering flames casting shadows that danced across his face, their light reflecting in his lavender eyes. The tragic story of his aunt struck a deep chord within him, her loss resonating with an ache he hadn't known he carried. The pain of her absence intertwined with the guilt of his deception—an unspoken burden he now shared with the group.

A memory surfaced, unbidden yet vivid. He recalled a name from The Beginning After the End, the world he now found himself reincarnated in—a name faintly familiar yet elusive. It tugged at the edges of his mind like a whisper in the wind. He remembered the guilt Arthur's parents, Alice and Reynolds, had shared with him before joining the war, though the exact name eluded him then as it did now.

It was only now, hearing the full story, that realization dawned on him. She was more than a distant figure from tales of heroism; she was his blood. His aunt. The truth felt surreal, like a puzzle piece clicking into place after being lost for far too long.

"It's strange," Noctis thought, his gaze unwavering from the fire. "Strange that I would be reincarnated as her nephew… as part of her story."

The connection extended further than just her. The bond with the Twin Horns, Arthur's trusted companions, now carried a different weight. Her legacy, her sacrifices, and now his place within that lineage—it all felt like a destiny he hadn't chosen but couldn't ignore.

When Alice tried to speak to him again, Noctis abruptly stood, his movements stiff and unnatural. "Thank you… for sharing," he said, his voice strained and barely above a whisper. "But I… I can't come with you. I'm sorry." 

Before anyone could respond, Noctis turned and ran, the shadows swallowing him as he disappeared into the night. He returned to the roof top where he'd been staying for over 6 months , collapsing onto the rooftop tiles with a gasp of exhaustion. The stars above seemed colder tonight, their light unable to pierce the storm raging within him. 

Mean while at the twin horns....

The silence was deafening as Noctis disappeared into the shadows, his departure leaving the group frozen in place. The crackling fire was the only sound until Adam broke the stillness, slamming his fist into the ground.

"That damn kid!" Adam growled, his voice rough with frustration. "We can't just let him go like this! He's confused, scared—he needs us!"

"I'll find him," Durden added, already rising to his feet. "He doesn't understand what he's leaving behind. We can bring him back—make him see reason!"

"Stop," Helen interjected, her tone firm yet tinged with sadness. She placed a hand on Durden's arm, halting him mid-step.

"Helen," Alice began, her voice trembling with both urgency and guilt, "he's just a boy. We can't leave him alone out there. He doesn't know what he's doing!"

Helen shook her head, her expression resolute but pained. "Noctis has already made his decision," she said softly. "Chasing after him won't change that. He's not running because he's lost—he's running because he's found his answer, even if it hurts him."

Adam stood, towering over her, his fists clenched. "So we just let him go? Let him carry this burden alone? Is that what you're saying?"

Helen met his gaze steadily, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "It's not about letting him go. It's about respecting his choice. Forcing him back would only push him further away."

Surprisingly, Jasmine, usually the quietest among them, spoke up. She had kept to herself for most of the night, her presence understated yet ever watchful.

"Helen's right," Jasmine said, her voice steady but soft, drawing the attention of the others. She rarely spoke, but when she did, her words carried weight.

"Jasmine?" Alice looked at her, startled.

"He's made his choice. Forcing him won't help—it might even make things worse," Jasmine said, her stoic face betraying a glimmer of understanding. "He'll be fine."

Though her words might have sounded cold, there was a subtle warmth to them, an unspoken care born of her own experiences. Jasmine's mind drifted briefly to her own past—the rejection, the isolation, and the ache of being abandoned by those who should have supported her.

The tension lingered, heavy and unyielding, until Alice's voice broke the moment.

"Then at least… let us give him something," she said, her voice cracking. She pulled a small, worn bag from her belongings, clutching it tightly. "Lensa's diary. The money we've saved—Lensa would want it to go to someone who could be helped with this. Maybe… maybe Noctis can use it in her place."

Helen took the bag, her hands trembling slightly as she ran her fingers over the weathered leather. "Are you sure about this, Alice?" she asked gently.

Alice nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I failed her once, Helen. I won't fail him too."

The group fell silent once more, their grief and guilt palpable. Helen clutched the bag close to her chest, her resolve firm despite the ache in her heart.

"I'll make sure he gets it," Helen promised softly.

...---..........---.......

Morning came too soon. Noctis woke to the faint warmth of the rising sun brushing against his skin. The familiar stillness of the rooftop offered little comfort to the storm raging within him. But this morning was different. Helen sat perched near the edge, her serene smile at odds with the heavy air surrounding them.

Noctis sat up slowly, his body stiff from a restless night. "Why are you here?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion and fatigue.

Helen turned her gaze to him, her eyes soft but unwavering. She chuckled softly, the sound carrying a surprising warmth. "I'm not here to scold you, Noctis. I came to give you this." She held out a small, worn notebook bound in cracked leather, the edges frayed from years of handling.

Noctis eyed it warily, hesitating before reaching out to take it. "What is it?"

"It was Lensa's diary," Helen said gently, her voice carrying both sorrow and affection. "We kept it, but it belongs to you now."

The words struck Noctis like a blow. His grip on the diary tightened as his throat constricted, emotions threatening to spill over. He glanced down at the leather-bound book, his fingers brushing over the worn cover. "Why… why would you give this to me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Helen's gaze softened further, her smile tinged with the kind of understanding that only came from shared pain. "Because you deserve to know her, Noctis. She was your family, and she would have wanted you to carry a piece of her with you. Whether you realize it or not, you carry her spirit within you."

She reached into her bag and handed him a small, heavy pouch. The sound of coins jingled faintly as he took it. "This was hers too. We were saving it, but Lensa believed in helping others. Use it wisely, Noctis."

Noctis's hands trembled as he held both items, his voice cracking as he whispered, "Thank you."

Helen placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, her touch light but grounding. "We'll always be here for you, Noctis. The Twin Horns don't abandon family. No matter where you go, remember that."

With that, she stood and turned toward the rooftop's edge, pausing only to glance back once. Her smile, bittersweet yet hopeful, lingered long after she disappeared down the ladder.

Noctis remained still, staring at the diary in his lap. The morning sun climbed higher, bathing the city below in golden light. His fingers brushed over the diary's cover once more before he clutched it to his chest, the weight of the past and the hope for the future settling within him.

"I'll protect them," he murmured, his voice steady despite the tears that traced silent paths down his cheeks. "Not just them, but everyone. I won't let anyone suffer for the gods' wars. I'll make sure of it."

As the city came alive with the sounds of a new day, Noctis stood, his resolve burning brighter than ever. With Lensa's memory in his heart and newfound determination in his soul, he turned to face the uncertain path ahead, ready to carve his own destiny.