Disclaimer: You, girl. Lieal, the one who doesnt own Avalon Code - You = Fail.

-braces behind ice sheild- Yeah yeah, I know, I know! I'm sorry! I blame Star Ocean this time!

Anwar: You abandoned me for some dude in a skirt? D

Albel: Clearly she know's who's superior.

Anwar: You think you're better than me?

Albel: Who said I thought I was better. I know I'm better, maggot.

BOTHOFYOUJUSTSTOPIT! -gasps- Please! I mean, come on! I'm sorry! I didnt write! I know I should have but I didnt! It's a good thing I had most of this chapter written out. It's really short - but it's there! Anwar, I'm sorry I havent played Avalon Code, drawn you more fan art, and havent posted in a billion years, kay? Albel, you stfu or I srsly will go and kick your ass again!

both: ...

Okai, now. um.... let's begin.

Lauca and Heath stood before her. She fidgeted, Heath's gaze piercing her – as if he could read her motions like a book. "Lieal," he began, watching her carefully with those bold eyes of his, "Can you handle a sword?"

Her brows furrowed. Sure she could use one, but if it wasn't one she created from the Book of Prophecy then it was too heavy for her to wield properly. The book wielder shook her head, dropping her gaze.

"What about a hammer?" Lauca questioned, as if an alternative weapon would supply the two with a positive answer.

Lieal merely shook her head again, ashamed of how truly weak she was without the book.

"What about bombs – or even projectiles?" Heath almost seemed desperate to find something she could use to defend herself with. Too bad it proved to be pointless.

"I'm sorry…" Lieal replied, shaking her head once again, "But… I can only use the weapons supplied to me by the Book of Prophecy…"

Heath sighed, but he didn't look like he was about to give up. "Do you still want to fight?" he questioned.

It grew quiet, Lieal withdrawing to her thoughts as she weighed her chances. She was so weak as she was now. It had been difficult to defeat Olly the first time – what chance did she stand a second time without the book? It all seemed to pointless – there was no way she could do it without the book – or the spirits to help her…

But she still had to try.

She owed that much to Anwar.

A determined look came to her face then, life sparking to her eyes for the first time in days. "Yes," she answered firmly, with a nod of her head.

"So, then are you going to…?" Lauca began to question Heath, letting her query trail off.

The ex-Weisen soldier nodded, a smirk coming to his lips. "All right then, I'll have to teach you my fighting style. The style all four schools are based on." He almost laughed when the girl gave him a confused and surprised look. "I'm talking about hand to hand combat," he answered the unspoken question.

Lieal looked a bit surprised, but then again, it made sense. All fighting styles had to come from somewhere, and hand to hand combat was the base of any manor of fighting.

Heath took her outside into the open space across the tree trunk bridge. It was Lieal's first time actually leaving the home in the tree, and on her way down, she couldn't keep her eyes from wandering about, looking from one thing to the next.

In the field, Heath turned to her. "This is not longer going to be an easy task, you know that, right?" he stated, "You don't have your book of miracles when things get tough. You have to have confidence in your strength. Do you understand?"

Lieal nodded, preparing herself for training. Heath walked her through, showing her the best way to get the most power out of her punch. He made her chase down large spiders – monsters – just so she could practice on them. For three hours, she was running around, feeling like a chicken with its head cut off, before Heath called her back.

"It looks like you have the basics. Now, I want you to test your skills out on me."

Lieal was surprised. Of course the teachers of the Four Great schools required she defeat them to learn their special move, but what move was there to learn in fist fighting? Nervous as can be, Lieal nodded, taking a stance and preparing herself.

Heath wasted no time in attacking. It seemed he didn't care if she was a girl – or a child for that matter. He took a swing at her, and Lieal jumped back to dodge it. She stepped to the right, smacking his extended arm down with her left hand, and landing a hit with her right. Again he was aiming for her, and again she dodged and countered. This little dance went on for quite some time, things getting rather intense when Lieal had to dodge Heath fists of fury – the punches streaming out like hail on a stormy night. Lieal didn't get away completely clean either. Her side hurt, her shoulder was sure to bruise, and there was a dull throbbing in her left leg. Circling around quickly to the left, she took a swing at him once again. He caught her hand and countered, and she caught his.

Lieal brought up a leg, meeting it to his side with a heavy impact.

Heath grunted, but both contestants held their pose, silent, waiting and watching. Finally the man released her hand and pulled his other one back, straightening up. "Very good," he complimented with a smile. "I think you're ready, Lieal."

Author's Note: Sooooooo I really wanna skip the whole Dragon fighting stuff. Like... I'll skim over it, but I dont want to go all in it. I dont really remember what all happened - and I'm being really lazy. I have notes on what to write after getting all the spirits back....so.....

what do you say? will you let me just skim over it? ;A; Please?

Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus. A