Sovereign: Hey guys! Here's my first Tales of Graces story and I'm a HUGE supporter of Asbel X Cheria. I hope you all enjoy.

Cheria's Guardian

Chapter 1: Out of Town

Asbel and Cheria both sigh blissfully as they lie together on a small hill. Summer break has arrived and they can finally have three months of rest after a whole year of school work.

The two smile as they look up at the sky, watching the clouds slowly passing by. Cheria lifts her arm up and points at one of them.

"You know what that cloud reminds me of?" Cheria asked Asbel.

Asbel squints his eyes and he lifts himself up from the ground and into a sitting position. "A humanoid lion holding a flower?"

Cheria laughs as she gets up and sits next to Asbel. "No Asbel! It looks like tree."

Asbel arches an eyebrow and tilts his head to the side. "Oh."

"You had such wild imaginations, Asbel." Cheria chuckled.

Asbel turns to Cheria and smiles at his friend. Cheria has been one of Asbel's closest friends ever since she first moved to his town six years ago. They both study in the same school and class and the two always look out and spend most of their time with each other.

"Cheria!"

Asbel and Cheria turn around and see Sophie, a friend of them, walking up the side of the hill.

"Sophie? What's up?" Cheria asked puzzled.

"It's your grandfather, Cheria." Sophie replied. Cheria widens her eyes, now fully alert.

"Is there something wrong with him?" She asked in concern.

"Just come and he will tell you everything." Sophie said. Asbel and Cheria turn to each other before they both get up from the ground and follow Sophie. The three walk back up the hill towards Cheria's house. They all lived in a small town located in an area full of grassy plains and rolling hills.

They walked up the hill, Cheria's house on the other side of it. When they reach her home, they enter through the back door. The three then slowly enter into the living room where Cheria sees her grandfather Frederic lying on a reclined chair.

"Grandpa?" Cheria asked with worried eyes. Frederic turns his head and sees his granddaughter and her friends approaching him.

"Cheria…" He uttered as he gestures her to come over. Asbel and Sophie stood and watch Cheria walking over to him. When Cheria is near Frederic, she places her hand on the arm of the chair and her grandfather places his own hand above hers. Cheria looks at her grandfather and he looks very pale. There is a cup of water and a bottle of pills placed next to him on a small table.

"G-gr-grandpa? Are you alright?" Cheria asked. Frederic gave an assuring smile.

"I'm fine Cheria. It's just that…I'm too tired and ill to take care of you lately." Frederic said to her. "So I've decided to send you back to your hometown for the rest of summer to stay with your mother…at least until I get better."

Cheria widens her eyes. "What?" She said. "You want me to go back to my hometown? And my mom?" Frederic nods his head. "But grandpa, I haven't seen and spoke to mom for six years now. What if so many things have changed between the both of us within that time?"

Cheria is right. Six years ago, after the tragic death of her father, her mother became extremely depressed since, to the point which she no longer cares about her own daughter and focus more on her work to distract herself from her family. And because she can no longer take care of her daughter, she sends Cheria out of town to live with her grandfather who lives in the other side of the state. Cheria doesn't know if her mother ever thought of her since.

"Cheria…you have to be strong. Even if things have changed, you should still at least try to know how your mother has been doing. I know that she lost your father and it's painful. She's to be pitied, not be ignored. And I know this because I lost my son that day too. So you should be at her side and try to help her go through her tough times." Frederic said.

Cheria remained silent for a moment before she nods her head. "Alright…I guess I'll pay mom a visit." She then holds up her grandfather's hand and clasps it with both hands. "But grandpa, promise me that while I'm gone, you'll get better."

Frederic nods his head. "And promise me that you'll be fine while you're in your hometown." He said to her. Cheria nods her head again.

"So you're moving back to your hometown for the summer?" Asbel spoke as he walks over to Cheria. She turns to him while pushing a strand of hair away from her eyes.

"Yes." Cheria said to him. "And it's a shame because I thought we are going to spend the whole summer together along with Sophie and Hubert."

Asbel smiled. "Yes. That's why I'm coming with you!"

"What?" Cheria widens her eyes.

"Yup." Asbel nods his head. "I've always wonder how your hometown looks like! So this will be my chance! Also, you need someone to talk to and look out for you while you're there right?"

"I'm okay with that." Frederic said to Asbel. "You can go along with her. But are your parents and brother okay with that?"

"Don't worry. It'll be fine with them." Asbel said. "It's summer break anyway and my family is used to me going way on long vacations with my classmates. So how is Cheria going to travel to her hometown anyway?"

"By bus. It will be a three days' trip with two nights at a hotel. I've arranged a ticket for Cheria." Frederic said.

"Alright. Then I'll arranged one for myself too." Asbel said. "And don't worry Mr. Barnes, I'll make sure your granddaughter will be safe and doesn't get herself into trouble."

Frederic smiles at Asbel. "I trust you can do the task properly, Mr. Lhant."

"Asbel…" Cheria said to Asbel, shocked that he will devote the entire summer to helping her like this.

Asbel turns to Cheria and grins. "Don't worry Cheria. It's not a problem at all. I'll keep you company during your stay in your hometown. Everything will be fine."

Cheria smiles back at her friend. "Thank you Asbel…"

END OF CHAPTER