Episode 6 of The Beginning After the End , released on May 7th, marks a new stage in Arthur's life and a difficult but necessary maturation process away from his parents for his training with Virion Eralith. Furthermore, it requires him to understand the deep pain emanating from his mana core and to strengthen himself to fulfill his new motivation: protecting 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 more peaceful life than the one he's been leading until he met Tessia. The elf girl seems to have emotionally disarmed a former king who hasn't known what fun and rest are for a long time.
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 in his life. It is 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 is his anxiety or the weight of responsibility.
The Beginning After the End presents a more peaceful and cheerful Arthur
It's clear that Arthur has missed his parents since the moment they were separated. However, his journey up to this point has been fundamental to his maturation and self-discovery. Characters like Sylvia, Tessia, and now Virion were and still are essential to the identity development of Arthur Leywin.
The episode features little action, but in return, it shows 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 who live in the kingdom. The only one who seems to accept him willingly in Elenoir is Virion, the elven girl's grandfather, partly because Arthur saved his granddaughter, but also because he knows that 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, considering this, Virion takes him to Rinia Darcassan, a sorceress and old friend. With her clairvoyant abilities, Rinia helps the protagonist get in touch with his family. The scene, in addition to Arthur's contact with his parents, shows flashbacks of moments after their separation. The images, which are unfortunately static, show the suffering of the two without their son.
Arthur begins a new chapter 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 have the company of Tessia, who is growing ever closer to him. With each episode, it becomes clear how distant Arthur is from his personality in his previous life, and the weight on his shoulders seems to be getting lighter.
The protagonist is more like Tessia than he imagines, 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 one point in the episode, led a very isolated life, with superficial friendships that broke her heart.
The Beginning After the End features a profound narrative that explores human emotion and identity formation through interaction with others. Furthermore, it presents a complex character who carries within him the duality of a past life lacking affection and his current life, which brings new feelings and an unimaginable purpose: to gain 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 opts for static images and few elements that could highlight scenes using 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. Additionally, for those who wish to experience the complete story, the physical comics are available on the NewPOP . A digital version is also available on Tapas.
Keep following AnimeNews for more information about The Beginning After the End and everything related to the otaku world!
