Episode 6 of The Beginning After the End , released on May 7, marks a new stage in Arthur's life and a difficult maturation process away from his parents, but necessary for his training with Virion Eralith. Furthermore, it requires him to understand the deep pain emanating from his mana core and strengthen himself to fulfill his new motivation: to protect those he cares about.
From the first episode, it's clear that Arthur retains memories of his past life as King Grey. However, he lives in a child's body and, as such, deserves a quieter life than the one he's led until he met Tessia. The elf girl seems to have emotionally disarmed a former king who had long lost his sense of fun and relaxation.
The reflections of Arthur's past life still linger in who he is today; the weight of carrying a crown and the burden of responsibilities still echo throughout his life. It's no coincidence that, at the beginning of the episode, the boy dreams that the pressure and pain he feels in his core leave his body and transform into a monster. This materialization makes him wonder if it's his anxiety or the weight of responsibility.
The Beginning After the End brings a calmer and happier Arthur
It's clear that Arthur has missed his parents since the moment they were separated. However, his journey to this point has been fundamental to his growth and self-discovery. Characters like Sylvia, Tessia, and now Virion were, and still are, essential to Arthur Leywin's identity.
The episode features little action, but it does reveal Arthur's integration into Elenoir, the elven kingdom. Initially, the boy faces rejection from Alduin and Merial, Tessia's parents, and also from the elves living in the kingdom. The only one who seems to accept him willingly in Elenoir is Virion, the elf girl's grandfather, partly because Arthur saved his granddaughter, but also because he knows something is happening inside the boy.
Motivated to give his all and understand his powers, Arthur agrees to stay in Elenoir and become Tessia's grandfather's apprentice. However, the boy is worried about his parents, and with this in mind, Virion takes him to Rinia Darcassan, a sorceress and old friend. With her clairvoyant abilities, Rinia helps the protagonist contact his family. The scene, in addition to Arthur's contact with his parents, features flashbacks to moments after their separation. The images, which are unfortunately static, show the couple's suffering without their son.
Arthur begins a new stage of his life in the elven kingdom
Arthur begins a new phase in the elven kingdom. In addition to his training with Virion, the boy will be able to count on the company of Tessia, who, incidentally, is growing closer to him. With each episode, it becomes clear that Arthur is distancing himself from his previous self, as well as the weight, which seems to be lifting less and less, on his shoulders.
The protagonist is more similar to Tessia than he realizes, as he carries memories of a life marked by the responsibility of being a king, just like the princess, who, as her grandfather explains at a certain point in the episode, led a very isolated life, with superficial friendships that broke her heart.
The Beginning After the End delivers a profound narrative that explores human feelings and the construction of identity through interaction with others. It also features a complex character who carries within himself the duality of a past life lacking affection and his current life, which brings new feelings and a purpose never imagined: gaining the strength to protect those he cares about.
Unfortunately, the animation, produced by studio A-CAT , leaves much to be desired, especially in scenes involving fighting and movement. The anime is opting for static images and few elements that could highlight scenes involving magic. Fans were so unhappy with the animation that they created a petition to cancel the series. To date, it has over 56,000 signatures.
The anime is available on the Crunchyroll streaming platform, with Portuguese subtitles. The next episode will be released on Wednesday, May 14th. For those who want to know the full story, the comics are available in physical form on the NewPOP website . A digital version is also available on Tapas.
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