So, I may just be really bad at this game but I am sort of stuck.

I am up to the part where you have to prove Bow is innocent from stealing some stuff and I tried going to a nearby town with a coliseum in it to find this mysterious girl. It seemed impossible to reach unless I ran away from every battle so that is what I did to get there. The problem is, I can't find anything to do in the town and the only other place I can reach is these woods.

It only takes about a maximum of five attacks (or sometimes only three depending on the monster) to die and I only have one party member.

It seemed like the difficulty went from a 1 to a 8 in such a little amount of time. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Can someone help?

geez, I don't remember man. I'm assuming you've tried gamefaqs already, I honestly can't remember what to do there, hopefully someone knows or you can find a fan site or just google a Breath of Fire II Walkthrough? hope that helps a little, good day.

1st: TRAINING!
2nd: In the woods is a lumberjack (deep into the woods). Beat him. Go to the Arena. Get the new member.
3rd: TRAINING! (minimum: 12, perfect: 15)
4th: Get good equipment.
last, but not least:->Arena

There ya go

Okay, I'll try to do some leveling up and get the best equipments but it will probably take a hell of a long time to do. I think once I do that I will try to enter the woods, or train in the woods collecting treasure inside at the same time until I think I'm ready to fight the person there.