No disclaimer, you guys verified by reading the last chapter that you understand I dont own. KTHX

Here's the next chapter!

Anwar: We hope you enjoy it.

Wow! Anwar, you sure seem happy.

Anwar: I am, I rather like this chapter.

Alright then! Peach-chan! This one's deticated to you! Why? Dont ask, I have no idea! xD Just thought I'd do it! LMAO

The next morning started off with a great start. Lieal didn't have to bother with making her own breakfast, but to help save money; she just made some pancakes from the Book of Prophecy. Food was food, no matter where it came from, so she didn't pay any mind to the fact that pulling food from a book shouldn't be physically possible. There were many things like that that she was now able to do, so she just let everything go how they may and not waste time asking questions.

Lieal made her first stop at Fana's house. She said good morning to her grandmother before heading upstairs. "Good morning, Fana," Lieal called.

Fana had always been an early bird. She was always awake when she came – aside from the rare occasion when Fana was too weak to stay awake for long. The brunette – of course – was wide awake, and greeted her friend with a smile, "Lieal, so good to see you. I heard you'll be competing in the tournament?"

The orange-haired friend meandered over to the other's bed and took her usual seat, "Yeah. Rex had me entered, but both Kamui and Anwar think I'll do just fine."

"Anwar…you mean that boy from your story?" Fana questioned, "He's here?"

Lieal smiled, "I'm as surprised as you are. I ran into him as I was leaving here for Rex's." She glanced out the window, and sure enough, she could see him from Fana's room, there by the fence as he had been the day before. "Look here, you can see him from your window." Fana shifted and was soon at Lieal's side, and the friend then pointed to the boy, "See there? That tan boy with the violet hair? That's Anwar."

As if hearing her from that distance, Anwar glanced up, his eyes meeting hers. He looked startled to see her watching him, let alone in that window in the first place. He assumed that the girl beside her was her friend. Both girls in the window waved to him, smiles on their faces, and he could do nothing more than wave back, a bit dumbfounded at the situation.

Fana found his shy wave back adorable. "He's rather cute, I'm glad to see your little friend followed you here," she voiced.

Lieal found herself blushing at her friend's comment, "F-followed me? You really think he followed me all the way here?"

"Well, that or he came here looking for you after you left," Fana replied. "He must like you."

"Ha ha ha, y-yeah right, Fana. Very funny," Lieal retorted, jumping to her feet, "Uh, well, I'm going to …uh, head out. I'm gonna go for a walk around Rhoan. I'll see you later."

Fana just smiled and waved so-long as her embarrassed friend ran off in a hurry.

Lieal was soon breathing fresh morning air outside, looking for something to distract herself with. She didn't want Fana's words echoing in her head any longer than they should – which was not at all. The hero soon found herself at the gates of the castle, where she overheard three maids complaining about Dorthea's stubborn stuck-up attitude before stalking off, declaring that they were on strike. Before Lieal could wander off with something else to do, Dorthea immerged and spotted her.

"Lieal! Thank heavens you're here!" the young princess called, hurrying over to her side. "My maids- they're gone! How am I supposed to dress? I can't do anything without them – but they won't listen to me! You have to help me. Go get them back – talk to them – whatever you must, but I need them back."

"Ah, but I was going to…" Lieal feebly protested.

"Thank you so much, Lieal," Dorthea interrupted, "Once you get them all to come back come see me and I'll see you're thanked." The blonde princess then turned and disappeared back into the castle to do some of the very few things she was able to without her maids – which was basically sit around her room and wait for them to show up.

Lieal sighed, it seemed she had no choice now. The book wielder turned and wandered off back into town. There were none to be found in the main circle of the town, nor the fountain, nor the mayor's house. As she wandered the arena, she spotted the tip of one's hat from the other side of the wall that surrounded the Cemetery wall. The girl trotted over, and sure enough, one of the maids was there. At first, the maid wanted nothing to do with Dorthea, "Please, Ma'm, Dorthea admit's that she's utterly useless without you and the others. She can't even dress herself – and I think that's really sad."

The maid waited a moment, thinking it over. "Well…If she said that then she must be really sorry… So I suppose I'll give her another chance."

Lieal smiled, "Great, thanks," she breathed before she turned and ran off to find another of the maids. She wandered to the lane of the town where Duran and his father lived. She entered through the door to Gustav's school, and spotted Duran practicing. "Hey, what are you doing Duran?"

Duran's face lit at the sight of Lieal, "I'm training of course. I'm going to be in the big tournament. Just wait, I'll rival you, I promise."

Lieal smiled, it was good to see him in such high spirits for once, "Cool. Hey, have you seen any of the castle maids around here?"

"Yeah," the self-proclaimed hero replied, "There's one over there by my dad."

"Thanks a bunch, Duran," Lieal replied as she passed by him. "Excuse me!" she called to the maid as she made her way over. Lieal repeated the same message she had given the first maid, explaining how Dorthea had come crying to her about how she was useless without her maids, and how she wouldn't be able to survive without them. Of course, a little of it was over exaggerated, but it got the job done. The maid agreed to return to Dorthea, and if she were to act up again…well, there was now a threat behind one of the maids to Dorthea if she were to ever do such a thing.

Lieal felt a little bad for Dorthea.

The next place Lieal checked was by her own house and in Fortune Teller's Ally, but there was nothing. There was one last place to check, and Lieal had no problem with it anymore as she rounded the corner and Anwar came into view. By now she was a little winded from all the running and she slowed to a stop in front of the desert boy. "Hey, Anwar, have you seen a maid around here? She's got on a blue and white dress and a funny pointed hat?"

"You mean like her?" Anwar questioned, pointing over to the last and final maid.

Lieal beamed, "You're a life saver. Thanks so much, Anwar." She jogged over to the woman and supplied the same half-hearted speech on Dorthea's behalf. The maid was reluctant at first, just as the other's had, but a little probing, and the maid was ready to head back. "Great," she turned and began walking back to where Anwar stood, "Hey, Anwar, are you hungry? I'll get you some – ah – hey what?!"

Lieal suddenly found herself being pulled backwards in the direction of the castle. A glance over her shoulder explained that it was the maid dragging her off. "W-what are you doing?"

"I'm sure My Lady would like to thank you for your service, correct? Come along now," the maid replied, not slacking in her grip.

Lieal sighed and turned to follow the maid, "I'll be back in a little, I promise!" she called back to Anwar over her shoulder.

The desert boy just stood there and watched her disappear beyond the crowd. That was a little bit of a disappointment. He had a question he had wanted to ask her. Oh well, maybe he could ask when she returned.

* * *

"Thank you so much, Lieal. Please come back tomorrow and I'll have a proper thanks arranged by then," Dorthea explained.

Lieal highly doubted that Dorthea would have proper thanks waiting for her. The girl would probably forget as soon as Lieal left the castle, and then have some other selfish, meaningless task for her to accomplish instead. "Sure, I'll come back tomorrow, don't worry about it," she replied.

A maid escorted her to the castle gates. After all, she had only been that deep into the castle once before, and though she was a hero, they had their formalities to uphold. Said hero then headed toward the Mayor's house. She could use the shortcut in his garden to get to the street Anwar was on quicker than just cutting through town.

Besides, she enjoyed walking through his garden. It was so well taken care of, so lush and full of life, she couldn't help but be envious. She let her hands linger over the leaves of the bushes as she passed, feeling a tinge of sorrow when she had to part with them to get through the short cut.

Lieal suppressed a smile when she easily spotted Anwar. He stood in the same spot yet again, his attention focused on the people in the main circle of town. She snuck up behind him, soon coming to a stop at his side, "Guess who?" she practically cooed in his ear, making him jump. A laugh escaped her and she stepped into his line of vision, "Did I startle you?"

The look of shock faded from the desert boy's features, "Oh, it's you."

"It's not 'you', Anwar, I have a name," Lieal said, pretending to scold him.

"Oh, right. Lieal, then," he replied, feeling his heart flutter when she smiled at him. "Listen, Lieal, I have a question for you. I've noticed males and females pairing off with one another. What is that? Why are opposite genders attracted to each other like that?"

Lieal blinked, mulling over what he was saying, "You mean when a guy says, 'Hey, sweetie, let's go do something together," and the girl blushes and giggles, saying, 'Okay, let's go do something together,' and they walk off holding hands? They stand really close and hug and kiss a lot and be really abnormally nice to each other? Is that what you're talking about?"

So she had a weird concept of how it looked, big deal.

Anwar took a moment to wrap his mind around what she said, fitting it with the things he had seen. "Yes…that seems about right."

The girl almost laughed at him, "That's called love, silly."

"Love? I see," he muttered, "Supporting and caring for one another. Felling compassion for that person, and wanting to spend time with them…" He faded into thought for a moment before his eyes met hers again. "Lieal, is there…someone you harbor these feelings for?"

Lieal felt her heart jam into her throat, beating faster than a hummingbird's wings could flap. She felt the blood rush to her cheeks, tinting them a bright red, "Ah – w-well – I –" she stumbled over her words, talking a hesitant step back. Why was she so embarrassed? What did it matter, she wasn't going to tell him – not like this. He was asking because he wanted to learn, not because he liked her too.

She panicked, turned, and ran off, disappearing into the crowd beyond the street.

Anwar watched her run off, and felt the frown on his face deepen.

How disappointing, and I was just starting to like her…

Author's Note: I LOVE THIS CHAPTER TOO! I had so much fun writing this one. That was my favorite question he asked me in the game. I thought it made him seem so UBER cute. Dont you? lol

Here's to you and you're cuteness Anwar.

Anwar: ...//////

Aw...how cute. I wanna gie a shout out to the newly declared Ryu-chan! The only one I know of who both reads my fanfic AND likes my art! Yay! You rock!

Anwar: Thank you both Ryu-chan and Peach-chan for reading this story.

Good boy, Anwar. Now, let's go get you some cake and watch some Saiyuki for the rest of the night.

Anwar: Why Saiyuki?

So we dont get burnt out on the game.

Anwar: Ah, I see.

See you next time!