Okay, i levelled up to a pretty respectable level18 in the torna canal. The enemies there don't attack males so i didn't have to heal at all.

Originally i was going to give a Knight the Counter command and just Gaurd. I'm hitting for 400HP damage a turn so i only needed to hit him twice. But he always got first attack and paralyzed me. Which meant i was helpless.

When i was levelling up, i watched my speed stat and it didn't increase at all regardless of what job class i used. My character as a Monk or Knight had just 26 on his speed stat but as a theif he had a nice 41. So i switched for a theif for this battle and gave him the Barefist command so he could inflict the same damage he did as a monk. I got first attack and hit for 400HP. He Used Tentacal as expected and paralyzed me. Then by shear luck he used an ordinary attack instead of his Tail screw. After being paralyzed my time bar resets so he gets another attack and used Tail screw then. That put me on single digit HP but i get a turn next because i'v recovered from paralysis so i hit him again to finish him. Phew

I saved in the ship graveyard near Siren and will attempt her likley on thursday. I don't take her to be too difficult.