"So... It just... sparkled?" Frolo asked, sipping his cheap airplane water.

"Yea." Mistro replied. "It twirled up my hand to the tip of the blade."

"Well," Roman said as he leaned his seat back. "I'm not gonna believe this bullshit, I don't think you guys should either. So Imma get some shuteye."

"Just wait and see yourself, asshole!" Mistro said, gritting his teeth and pointing his finger at Roman, as if trying to be threatening. Roman stared at his finger and closed his eyes. Roman fell asleep, as stiff as a board.

"Guys!" Frolo said to Mistro. "Fighting wont help us!"

"I agree." Kuage said with a large yawn as he leaned his seat back as well.

"Well," Mistro said as leaning his own seat back also. "we don't know what waits for us, but its surely not good." His eyes fluttered shut as he finished his sentence, drifting off.

...

Mistro woke in a dark, mahogany brown room that smelled like cinnamon. Mistro knew this was just most likely a dream, but he couldn't help that it seemed so real...

Mistro thought he had been here before, but he didn't know where he was or why he was here. Two very important things a mercenary prince must know.

Mistro tried to move, tried to walk and examine the rest of his surroundings. It drained most of his energy to even move a finger a bit. Whatever was happening, it had to be caused by magic. Dark magic. Mistro would know about magic, since his mother taught him the basic spells, such as thunder, Arc fire, L Winds, and Nosferatu. He had never experienced a paralysis spell before, and it was horrifying. He could barely move, could be attacked at any time, and it drained his energy to even TRY moving. Resistance was futile, Mistro knew. This was starting to turn less into a dream and more into a surreal nightmare. Barely able to lift a finger, he felt like a prisoner, trapped in his own body like a wild animal yearning to roam free from its cage in the zoo.

Mistro heard footsteps in the distance. He struggled for freedom, trying to move his arm to his neck to find his necklace gone, ripped from his neck most likely to prevent him from attacking. Mistro screamed in pain as he collapsed, for reaching to his neck drained every bit of energy he had left.

"Its OK." Said a familiar voice. Mistro didn't know where he knew it from, but it sounded warm, like clothes fresh out of the wash. "I had to take Aegis away so you wouldn't attack out of instinct." The footsteps became louder. Then, he saw feet, or shoes, from his ground level view. The man dangled Mistro's gold chain necklace with a miniature sword in its sheath. Mistro tried to grab it out of the air, but his energy was too low, so he couldnt reach for it without feeling a sudden jolt of stabbing pain in his shoulder.

"What..." Mistro stammered. "What do you want with me?!" His voice boomed louder as he continued. The voice of a leader shouted so loud that it echoed through the entire dark, gloomy room.

"I must tell you important information that you must know to survive." The man replied. "First off, This," He dangled the necklace in Mistro's face. "Her name is Aegis. The name comes from a girl in the Pompeian army who used this sword before you. She died a horrible death, and now possesses the sword, yearning to fight again. While on the topic of Aegis, Remember the blue helix that swirled around your hand when you killed that demon guide?" Mistro nodded. "That means you leveled up. Aegis only wants to fight, so whenever she gets to destroy lots of enemies, she grows stronger, levels up. It will be harder to level up when Aegis is a higher level. Each level you gain, Aegis will do more damage, cut deeper, farther. After 10 levels, Aegis will get a mostly complete overall new look!"

"OK." Mistro said. "Is that all?"

"I am afraid not." The man replied with a saddened tone as if a father was telling their child about their pet's death. "One of your friends will soon meet... a fatal accident."

"What?! Who?"

"That i cannot say for sure, but even if I could, you cannot change their fate. It is already set. Hell, it could be you!"

"But will it affect the mission, whatever that is?"

"Mistro, my boy," The man said. "Nothing can affect the mission. Even if the death of a friend takes place. Even if YOU die, the mission must go on. May death never stop you. You must go, for you have been sleeping for hours."

"HOURS?!?" Mistro asked. "Its only been a few minutes!"

"Time conversions are different where we are. No, you must go!"

"Wait!" Mistro yelled as he saw himself disintegrating. "What IS my mission?"

"I have faith in you! You know your mission good and well!" The man winked at Mistro.

"Um, No, I kinda don't." Mistro yelled as he returned to reality