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ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ: Asbel Lhant
sᴇʀɪᴇs & ʟɪɴᴋ: http://aselia.wikia.com/wiki/Tales_of_Graces ( Tales of Graces f)
ᴄᴀɴᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: Post Main Arc, before start of Future Arc.

ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ: "I guess I'm better at solving other people's problems than dealing with my own."

In order to understand Asbel Lhant, you have to first look at his growth from a boy to a man. As an eleven year old boy, heir to the Lhant Lordship, Asbel was nothing short of a brat. He shied away against any sort of responsiblity and openly disrespected his father, Aston Lhant. To him, the idea of inheriting his Father's title and and having to do what he said was nothing short of an encroachment of freedom. In short, Asbel felt he should do whatever he liked, and besides, he had no intentions of becoming a Lord. He wanted to become a knight. To him, that was the idea of strength, not bowing his head and groveling to the people his Father did.  He was openly defiant of Aston, and any order he had he'd often break just to show that he could. In short, Asbel was not a very respectful kid, a rowdy troublemaker who often dragged his sweet-mannered younger brother Hubert into all his escapades. 

But above all else, what Asbel didn't really understand, was true strength did not necessarily come from being a knight, where the title itself implied strength, but having the power to protect people. His father openly scorned him for thinking he could protect someone while being a rowdy, self-centered child, and in many ways, his Father was right, though his manner of telling his son and Asbel's own unteachability led to a great rift forming between them, which made him scorn the position of  Lordship over Lhant even more.

And yet, Asbel was not entirely a terrible child. In a lot of ways, his simplistic way of thinking, of seeing people for who they were, or rather, wanted to be, was an asset that greatly impacted the people he came to make friends with. In particular, Richard, heir to the throne of their kingdom. He was a lonely boy who had no trust for anybody lest they use him for his position. It was Richard who became one of his closest friends, along with Sophie, who Asbel had swore to protect despite his young age. He made a friendship pact with the two of them, and as far as he was concerned, Richard's position meant nothing to him. When Richard went so far as to giving him his ring as a show of thanks, Asbel openly rejected it, finding it insulting and flat-out said he could care less that Richard was a Prince.

Nor was Asbel's desire to protect people, something that would shape the foundation of his life growing up, a bad thing. Despite his often careless way of doing things as a child, he was very protective of his friends, though he often got them into trouble. Particularly, when they snuck out into the capital of Windor to visit Richard, where they were all deeply hurt by a monster named Lambda while meeting him. In the end, Sophie, the one person Asbel swore to protect and live beside as long as he lived, died in front of his eyes, ending his childhood. Ending the dream that he could protect someone else, as his Father had chided him on being unable to do.
 
After that, Asbel left home, embittered by his Father's words, of sending his brother Hubert to live with another family. He left behind Cheria and believed with all his heart that the only way he could gain the strength to protect others, to prevent anyone important to him from dying like Sophie had, was to become someone so strong, that he'd never need anyone to look after him. Instead, he'd become someone others coulddepend on someone who would never fail in protecting the ones he loved. As it stood, Asbel knew that he didn't have the strength to do that, so he left his home and duty behind and headed to the Knight Academy. 

And this is where the boy becomes the man. 

During his training as a knight, Asbel quickly cast aside the rude, often disrespectful nature of an eleven year old. He matured rapidly, pushed by an obsessive need to become as strong as he could so he could protect all the people  he loved, whether he knew them or not. He became a polite, earnest young man, propelled by a determination, a need to become as strong as he could. If there is one thing Asbel is, it's absolutely devoted to what he believes. In this case, it's his belief in saving everyone. From a boy who was spoiled and selfish, out of tragedy, was born a man who had little to no concern in regards to himself when placed with the wellbeing and safety of his friends. In short, Asbel Lhant grew to become a selfless, strong-willed, somewhat naive teenager who would show no compromise when it came to the safety of his friends.

Of course, there's certainly a lot of guilt inside Asbel. He feels responsible for the events that happened seven years ago, and from it stemmed a need to become strong enough or else he felt he could not return to his home unless he became a knight, or in essence, someone strong enough to protect the people he cared about. Asbel is determined in essentially everything he does. There is no middle ground for him when it comes to giving his all. Whether it was helping Richard reclaim his throne, to helping Lhant get back on it's feet, Asbel is 100% devoted to the people he cares about.  

A lot of Asbel's character you can see in his actions. One such being in the lengths he goes especially for Sophie and Richard. As Sophie had 'died' seven years ago, he is particularly protective of her and wants nothing more for her to live her life as she feels fit, not sacrifice it for the sake of defeating their common enemy, Lambda. Most of the storyline involves Asbel and the lengths he will go for any of his friends. When Richard been taken over by Lambda, going so far as to attack those he once considered friends and endanger the life of their world,  Asbel does not seem to harbor any measure of resentment. If anything, he is the one person in the party, along with Sophie, who refuses to give up on his friend. He constantly seeks a way to do the right thing without falling back on the sensible solutions. It would make sense for Asbel and his group to kill Richard, as he is possessed by a seemingly evil entity named Lambda. However to Asbel, leaving any friend behind is not an option, no matter how dire the situation grows.

 

"If he's in trouble he can't handle, then I'll stay by his side and figure it out."

In that Asbel truly is as Richard described him to be: 'special' he literally has no limits to the loyalty he shows his friends and to the world he lives in.  In all senses of the word Asbel can be nothing if not wise in believing in the quality of his friends, for though he trusts freely, he trusts rightly.All the friends that gather around Asbel are there because Asbel knows they are worth having. His brother Hubert often chides him on how openly he trusts others, to which Asbel often replies that it is Hubert who is better at the analyzing. 

"You know that's not me. If there's something I have a chance of protecting, then I'll do everything I can to make sure it's safe."

As Asbel suffered so much from the guilt of his actions as a child, he spends most of his waking hours towards the betterment of the world and people around him in both compensation and because he knows it's the right thing to do with his life. He honestly confesses to his knight instructor, Captain Malik, that if  he is simply sitting around without training to better himself, then he feels he's 'wasting time'. The sense of doubt and unease about his past mistakes don't get any better when his dreams of being a knight are halted by the death of his Father. This causes quite a rift inside Asbel. As he had never known his Father or tried to understand him, it leaves him lost. When his estranged little brother returns, changed, cold and indifferent towards him, Asbel loses not only his right to the lordship, but a place in his own home. 

He confesses in anguish to a very alive Sophie that 'he couldn't save anyone then, and he can't save anyone now'. Despite all his training as a knight, it still did nothing when his home was attacked by Fendel's army, when his Father died doing what Asbel had been trying to become strong enough to do for seven years: protect the people he loved. It's safe to say Asbel takes his responsibilities and actions very seriously. He is not above getting down on himself and questioning 'what-if's' when the situation goes badly. He often takes responsibility for most things even if they weren't entirely his fault, this burden falls heavier on his shoulders when he leads the rest of the party across their world in hopes of stopping Richard and Lambda. 

Before Richard's fast descent into madness, he met up with him again, and confesses to him honestly that being able to protect and help him regain his father's throne is a form of 'salvation'. By having a purpose in a world he felt he no longer had a place in, he can find meaning in his life. In a way, Asbel in the beginning of the story very easily measures his self worth in how well he can protect or help someone else out. However being reunited with old and new friends on their journey to save their world reminds him of things he'd missed during his long years of training, like having fun, being a teenager and enjoying the moments. Of course, Asbel never really stops worrying about his friends. Even when seperated from his brother Hubert, he never stopped worrying for him, never stopped feeling like the older brother with a strong urge to protect him. He never had a bad thought about Richard even when his actions upset and confused him. However even if Richard is his best friend, that doesn't change the fact that he won't hesitate to stop him, because he feels it is because he is his true friend, that he can't let him down and continue on a path he knows the real Richard wouldn't pursue. 

As serious and stern as Asbel can be about his ideals, he's also a pretty big derp. He has no clue about any romantic implications that Cheria tries (and sadly fails as a running gag) in the game, and rarely notices when there is any sort of obvious problem or issue between the group. (For example he never notices Hubert's obvious feelings towards Pascal in the game ) His obliviousness and habit of walking in at the wrong time is a common theme among his friends and his plans at coordination with say, party victory poses..almost always fails. The fact that he even has mottos that he says at the end of a fight implies that he's pretty much a huge dork beneath all that noble, white-knight behavior. He's not above joking around or playing with his friends, and hasn't lost his sense of wanting adventure and having fun.

Yet as kindhearted, as inherently good as Asbel is, he certainly has flaws. His sense of responsibility for the lives of everyone around him is one of them. As Asbel is the undeclared leader of their party, he often worries and frets about all his friends, taking all their opinions and situations to heart and involving himself completely to the point of wearing himself out. It's good to feel concern and protectiveness over your friends, but in Asbel's case, he often forgets his own sense of safety when it concerns the lives of someone else. This often stems from what happened seven years ago, and could be considered one of Asbel's greatest fears: Failing someone he cares about. This in mind, he has absolutely no tolerance for failing any of his friends. 

 Also Asbel has some significant trouble in conveying how he really feels. As much as he wants his friends to feel like they can depend on him, he often likes to deal with his problems on his own ( if at all, he admits he has better time solving other people's problems than dealing with his own ) and he doesn't want to weigh anyone down like he did in the past. He often tends to get heated and angry when he feels upset, a prime example being his yelling at Sophie for her belief that it is her duty to sacrifice herself against Lambda. As Cheria puts it, Asbel's way of showing his hurt and sadness is by being angry, by being frustrated. He often isn't the best at revealing his true feelings. Yet Asbel still remains fairly honest to a fault. He doesn't really know how to lie, so when he's upset, it's clear to his friends when he is. Asbel is also fairly naive, believing in the good of others and trusting the wrong people at times, a prime example being Emeraude. He can also have blind loyalty to his friends, especially Richard, who when he begins to make violent actions as King, Asbel is the one lashing out at anyone who judges Richard, defending him because of all that Richard has gone through. He can be extremely reckless in making decisions, letting his emotions get the best of him, which is why he openly states to Hubert how he relies on him when such things happen, showing that he's fairly humbled over seven years of time. He owns up to his mistakes, and admits to Sophie that he's stubborn just like she is. Both are determined to end the fighting, Asbel is determined to save his friend and keep Sophie from dying. 

And above all else he has unwavering faith, enough  to show compassion to his enemies, Lambda, to believe in his best friend who's hurt him, and be able to extend his hand regardless, even when it hardly seems the most sensible. It's this pure form of sincerity that undoubtedly reaches and baffles others to the point where they know little to do but listen to him. It's rare and in some cases not the wisest, but it certainly takes all around him by surprise.

Yet it's this stubbornness, this accepting and compassionate nature, and a powerful will that makes Asbel a person that people trust, that people depend on his strength for. He may not have become a knight,  but what he has become is a person worth following, a person you can depend on, and someone who has learned that strength isn't measured by titles or occupation, but in the power gained from having important people in your life-- things that are worth protecting. He is a person that will not hesitate to reach people no matter where they are, a person who will not abandon anyone in trouble and it is reasons like this that Asbel has become someone worth following. It isn't just the sword or titles that determines if you can protect someone else, but having the desire in your heart, which is something Asbel has learned, something that has been recognized, and something that his friends love and admire him for.

sᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ:
From the moment he'd opened his eyes, nothing felt completely amiss. Not yet, anyway. The sky was a clear blue, and the drowsiness came from a nap.
Wait--

Where was this? Slowly removing his hand from a yawning mouth, Asbel took into account where he sat. Framed against a tree he could have assumed was the very one  he'd made the friendship pact on, he found himself instead confused.

He never remembered sleeping or taking a break beforehand. Paperwork was a challenge, and nothing he was completely fond of, but it was a necessary duty. The break he was ready to create for himself should have been an hour later..and the newly stated Lord had never even left the desk in the first place. 

"...Where is this?"

There was no bright field of flowers to greet him, nothing familiar or ordinary that spoke of his hometown. Nothing part of Lhant. The tree that towered over him was unlike any he had ever seen and he took a voluntary step back at the sight of it. 

If he was here, lost, wherever this was -- what would happen to Lhant? He was it's protector, it's first line of defense along with Bailey and the others. He didn't have time to be wasting around here..wherever here was. 

"I've got to get back..I'm sure this isn't that far.."

Though he couldn't deny that this was nothing like any part of Ephinea he'd ever seen before, so his words were doubtful even to himself. Brushing fallen leaves off his white pants, he made past the large tree and towards what seemed to be a dirt path. 

If I follow this maybe I'll find someone eventually who can give me some answers..or a map. 

But by the looks of things, mainly the shadows of monsters in the distance and the tracks also laden upon the road, that Asbel would have far more trouble than just finding directions...

His hand went to the hilt of his blade. It didn't seem even in times where peace had just begun that there would be any reprieve..

Either way, I need to get back home, I don't want Sophie, Mom and the others worrying about me..





ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ? MAMORENAKATTA...................................................................