Just Another Beginning After the End | TBATE

Diane Bleeker

A/N: Here's the second chapter of the day!

This chapter was honestly a challenge to write for me. Psychology is not my forte and my lacking experience as a writer is weighing on me too. Anyways, I did my best so I hope you all enjoy it.

Also, WARNING: This chapter contains references to child and domestic abuse! If you are sensitive to such topics, be warned!!

Happy (Idk if that applies) reading :D

Diane Bleeker POV

To be completely honest, I was terrified. I wasn't even supposed to be here! Just until a few weeks ago, I was just using my water magic to help my mother do the laundry before some men in expensive armor showed up asking if I wanted to take part in a competition.

I wanted to refuse, but after the knights spoke with my dad, my dad told me to do it and... I didn't want my mom or my brothers to get hurt again, so I said yes.

...

Anyways, after that, I came to Xyrus, and that was an amazing thing. I was blown away by the incredible sight of a floating city in the sky and the stores and all the restaurants. Oh! And the dresses! The dresses that I had only seen in books! Cakes and treats that make my mother's and mine's that are the best in our town look like a child's first cookie, and, and...

...Ahem.

What I'm trying to say is that, for a country bumpkin like me, this was something I could've only dreamt of: coming to a great city like Xyrus.

But like that line from that book, "what goes around, comes around," my happiness was soon drowned out by the shouting and roaring of the crowd as I stood in front of the continent as a representative of my race.

Everything went downhill from there.

During the Battle Royale, I couldn't do anything except run around, doing my best to duck and dodge spells. Then, by some malicious luck, I somehow managed to survive.

And then the first round of duels happened. I should've lost. I really should have. But for some reason, my water spell knocked out my opponent.

...It was probably because she wasn't concentrating.

After that, the next guy I was supposed to fight didn't show up, and the person after that apparently couldn't come due to a family situation.

And just like that, I made it to the quarterfinals and, let me repeat, I'm weak! Super weak! I couldn't even beat a bug! And I hate bugs!

Anyways, that leads me here. In front of the dark horse turned favorite of the tournament.

Asher Aureus.

An elf who beat every single one of his opponents in a single hit, who was so strong that the wooden swords that endured the back and forth of well-known sword prodigies that even a bumpkin like me knew snapped like twigs.

"...Asher. Asher Aureus."

He suddenly said his name, and I spouted whatever blather came up in my mind first.

He started talking to me, but I could barely speak a word and stuttered over everything.

...How embarrassing.

—Counting down!

Suddenly, the announcer's voice cut into my mind's fuzziness, making my mind clear for a second, during this moment where I could think clearly, a particular line that Asher Aureus said floated up.