Soon enough two months have passed. Lyla has improved significantly though Maggie never said so in front of the said Magician.

"She's rounding out pretty nice. Just like her parents. Strong and sturdy like her father but gentle and lithe as her mother. All the elements to become a Great Magician," said Maggie with a proud smile.

"Why don't you ever say that in front of Lyla?" asked Levi as he sat beside Maggie with cups of tea for both of them. It has become a habit of Levi to bring out tea while they both silently watch Lyla train.

"One shouldn't be too generous with compliments," said Maggie. She then took a sip of tea. "Even you yourself, young man, isn't a person to give compliments that often."

Levi was now getting used to the fact that Maggie still called him 'young man' instead of his name. It seemed to be her own way of calling him in a friendly way. The same way as Maggie called Lyla 'dear child' instead of her name.

After the morning training Lyla would hole herself up in the basement –or lab, as she calls it- for the rest of the day and Levi would usually bring her meals as she refused to come out or be too absorbed with her work. It was now one of those moments as Levi went down the stairs with a tray. He had tried to call Lyla up but there was no answer. Finally, Maggie said to 'deliver her meal to her' as she seems to be 'in her own world'.

Levi gently knocked on the door but of course, there was no answer. He pushed in and there was Lyla, fast asleep on her desk. Several books were opened in front of her and papers were everywhere to the point there was barely any floor to be seen. Even the wall was tacked with numerous notes. Levi cautiously walked across the room, trying not to step on any of the papers on the floor. When he finally arrived at the desk, he carefully closed a book that was opened on a stack of books(after marking the place it was opened, that is) and placed the tray on top. Usually, he would never do such thing but there was simply no room for a tray on the desk and he knew Lyla would just have to relocate them if Levi moved any books. He looked down at Lyla's sleeping form and thought of just leaving her be. But eating was important, especially with all the training and studying she was doing. Plus, he remembered that one time when he found Lyla like this and just left her. Lyla wasn't so happy about the fact that she slept through and wasted an entire half of the day. So despite wanting to let Lyla rest, Levi gave a gentle but firm shake. Lyla let out a moan. She lazily gave a few blinks and slowly sat up.

"Dinner."

At Levi's words, her eyes traveled to the tray currently perched on a tower of books.

"For the Wall's sake, I fell asleep again. How long was I out, Levi?"

"You were awake when I checked on you an hour ago so I guess an hour?"

Lyla let out a groan. She started spooning up her soup as she looked through her notes again. Levi looked at her with concern.

"You know, Lyla. If you're tired enough to constantly dose off then isn't it better to just go to bed? When did you go to bed last night anyway?"

At Levi's question, Lyla merely shrugged and scratched the back of her head.

"I don't know…?" she slowly started, "I think I sort of fell asleep here. But I did get sleep because I found myself waking up this morning!" Lyla hastily added the last sentence after seeing Levi's dangerously narrowed eyes. Still, it didn't seem to do anything as Levi's eyes were still narrowed.

"Lyla, you can't do that!" Levi said in a stern voice, "A desk is no place to fall asleep and it's not good for your health."

"My goodness, you sound like my father," said Lyla. Levi slightly flinched at this. "Not that I see you like one," Lyla added. She gave a long sigh.

"Levi, there's only about a month left. I need results to take back. Good results. And I think I finally found a solid lead to this whole 'cure'."

They were silent for a moment. Finally, Lyla said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Besides, you're no one to talk. You always fell asleep at your desk when I told you not to."

Levi opened his mouth and shut it. After some time he said lamely, "This… this and that are different."

"I don't see how it is different," Lyla quipped. "Anyway, it doesn't change the fact that I only have 1 month left till I have to go back up there and I want to go back with a solution."

Levi sighed in defeat.

"Fine, fine. But only on one condition."

"And what is that?"

"You have to sleep in the bed. I don't care how much but you need proper rest. I know what hell of a cramp asleep in a chair can give and I don't want you going through that."

"Alright. You got yourself a deal."

Levi almost choked at her words. Did she just say a deal? Since when did she make 'deals' with him? Wait a minute, why didn't he just order her to go to bed at a certain time? That would've been so much easier.

"You're thinking 'why didn't I order her to go to sleep', aren't you?" Lyla asked. She laughed out loud at Levi's surprised face.

"Is Maggie teaching you how to read people's minds too?"

Lyla again laughed out.

"No, no. It's just that you're so obvious to me now. Maggie can't read people's minds anyway."

"Might as say she can with her keen perceptiveness," said Levi. Lyla only shook her head and flipped through a few pages.

"I'm dying to clean this room. It's turning into a ditch," said Levi. He wrinkled his nose in disapproval.

"It's chaos with order," said Lyla.

"Chao with order?" asked Levi in a ridiculous tone, "What is that supposed to mean? Does that even make sense?"

"It means that even if it looks like this, I know what is where."

"I swear you're becoming more like Shitty-Glasses every day."

"Anyway, I can perfectly find whatever I need in this room so don't you dare go cleaning or tidying it. If you do, I won't be able to find anything," Lyla said in a threatening manner.

Levi raised both his hand in defeat.

"I won't, so don't worry. If I was going to clean this room, I would've done it ages ago. So rest assured, I won't touch anything."

"Good."

With that, Lyla turned back to her books and notes. She began rapidly writing something. Levi smiled and said softly.

"I'll be back for the dishes in 30 minutes, okay?"

Lyla nodded with a hum.

"And I want the dishes to be empty, got it?" Levi said in a more stern voice. Lyla again hummed in confirmation. When Levi came back upstairs Maggie had set all the table and was checking on the soup. She saw Levi coming and said,

"Took you quite long for just delivering dinner."

"I'm sorry. I got caught up in something," apologized Levi. Maggie just smiled fondly and said,

"Don't mind. I'm actually happy to see that you care for that child that much. It eases my mind a little to know that there will always be someone who checks on her now and then."

...


...

Another full week has passed when Maggie finally said.

"I think you're almost ready, my child."

Lyla's face lit up. Maggie motioned for Levi who walked over with a questioning look.

"Young man, will you help me with Lyla's final training?"

"Of course,"

"Very good."

Maggie placed three cans on Levi. One on each of his shoulders, near his neck, and one on his head.

"Now, unlike your mother's talent, it isn't difficult to activate your father's talent. However, it requires immense control because well, titan crystals can't really think and move on their own accord, now can they?"

Maggie indicated the cans placed on Levi and said, "I want you to knock these cans off without injuring him."

Lyla jaw dropped. "WHAT? Wha… Maggie, I can't. What if I accidentally hit him?"

"Then I guess he'll die or get severely injured. Mind you that there aren't any hospitals or placed you can get medical care around here so I suggest you be careful."

"Bu… But Maggie!"

"Not buts, child. Let's get started then."

After that about two hours passes unsuccessfully with Maggie peacefully drinking tea, Levi standing there and getting stiff, and Lyla rotating between glaring at the cans and giving Levi and Maggie pleading looks.

Finally, during the third hour, Maggie stood up.

"This won't do, dear child. I guess we must change tactics."

That change of tactics turned out to be shoving off Levi from a mountain of ruins to fall flat on the floor if Lyla doesn't do something.

"THIS IS INSANE!" Lyla almost screeched out. What was it with shoving off people from cliffs and her magic? She remembered last time when they shoved Eren off the cliff to force out some kind of magic out of her. That didn't go well and Levi had to swoop down last minute to retrieve Eren. This time there was no safety net or fellow comrade to catch Levi should she fail.

"He'll die if I miss!" Lyla said desperately. Maggie was serene as ever.

"Then I guess you shouldn't miss, if you don't want him to die, that is. There aren't any people around here so nobody will see us and come to the rescue."

"For fuck's sake, Maggie!"

"Goodness gracious my dear child, language!"

Lyla rolled her eyes and looked at Levi, who looked calm as ever as if he wasn't about to walk the plank. Lyla turned back to Maggie.

"Maggie, he'll die!"

"Why do you think he'll die?" Maggie quietly asked.

"Because anybody would die if they fall from that height!"

"Well then do something with your talent so he won't fall."

"I can't Maggie, I'll fail!" said Lyla in exasperation.

"How can you be so sure?" Maggie again asked.

"Because I've done it before and failed!"

Lyla explained the little experiment they did with Eren and how she failed to save him and how Levi had to scoop him up. Maggie silently listened throughout and when Lyla finished talking she simply said,

"But dear child, you've changed, have you not? You're more skilled, your talent has matured. I'm sure there must be some difference."

And so the test began and Levi jumped off with no hesitation while Lyla panicked.

'He's falling! Lyla, do something! He's going to die!'

Lyla nervously chewed on her lips. But then she heard another voice shout in her head.

'For Maria's sake, get a grip on yourself! Quit panicking and do something!'

"Right."

Lyla took a deep breath. She looked around and thankfully there were trees. She quickly sang to them and the trees stretched their branches. All the time Lyla's mind was filled one thought.

'Quicker, faster, before he meets the ground!'

Soon the branches caught Levi mid-air and brought him safely to the ground. Lyla instantly ran to Levi and threw her arms around him.

"I never want to do that ever again! I thought I'd get a heart attack!"

Levi chuckled and patted her head.

"Never thought you'd fail, Little Bird. I must say I'm quite proud."

That's when something caught Lyla's eye. She gently pushed Levi aside and walked closer. There, where Levi was to fall, was a pit filled with soft leaves.

"So there was a safety net after all…." Said Lyla. She turned to Levi and said, "You…you knew this. Didn't you?"

Levi shuffled awkwardly and looked away.

"Oh my God, how could you? You knew all along, didn't you? And here I thought you would die if I didn't catch you! You didn't even think of giving me a hint?"

"Now, now, dear child. Don't be too upset with him. I asked him not to tell because it would ruin the whole point of this final lesson," said Maggie as she placed a soothing hand on Lyla's shoulder.

"And what lesson is that?" said Lyla as she crossed her arms defiantly. Maggie smiled.

"To never fear and doubt yourself or your skills."

They were all silent for a moment. Lyla uncrossed her arms. Maggie continued to talk.

"The moment you fear using your powers, you won't be able to use it at all. Today you overcame your fear and saved Levi."

"Well, yeah, sort of."

Maggie chuckled.

"Dear child, did you truly think I would make an innocent man just jump off like that without some insurance?"

"Well, now that you point it out. It all makes sense, I should've known you wouldn't do such a thing. I was just so preoccupied with the thought of Levi."

"That's another extra lesson I see," said Maggie. "Never let your fear or emotion get ahead of you. Never fail to think rationally."