" Slyphs?" Akis asked with curiosity

"Yes, angelic spirits in the air, they give you inspiration and guidance" Aeneas explained

"You still believe in such fairy tales?" Akis mocked. He was slightly intoxicated by the cold ale sitting in front of him. His head felt as if it was spinning inside of itself, the alcohol was starting to take its toll on Akis. He felt himself loosing control of all thoughts and actions. It was as if he was possessed by a demon and it was then Aeneas realized how Akis was acting. A man, who then decided to leave the old tavern, bumped into Akis unintentionally in his drunken state. Akis, unable to access his common sense took his mug and smashed it down upon the table. Shards, split from the glass mug, started to fly, cutting not only Akis, but also the drunkard who bumped into him. Cold ale spilled everywhere, dripping from the table's edge. Akis, angry and unable to properly think didn't even seem to realize the drops of blood trickling down from the small cuts on his hands and face, nor the other drinkers gawking at the site and cheering at the mere thought of a fight, all he could think about was throwing a punch. The drunkard now angry from the act of violence took it upon himself to throw the first hit. He threw his arm back and clenched his fist and hurled his fist into Akis's stomach. Aeneas grabbed the drunkard and held him back.

"Sir! Please! He didn't know what he did; he is only 18 years of age and has never been drinking before!"

The drunkard, woozy now and starting to feel sick decided to let Akis off with a warning and stumbled out the door, occasionally tripping down the dirt-strewn path. The others in the tavern, disappointed at how short the fight was went back to what they were doing, ignoring the young man who lay unconscious on the floor. Aeneas feeling sympathetic for his friend, decided to help drag Akis home. Aeneas, however, was slightly lightheaded from drinking and ended up wandering the streets of Athens for almost the entirety of the night. It wasn't until dawn that he finally reached his destination and placed Akis in his bed. Suddenly fatigue took Aeneas over and so he collapsed beside Akis bed and feel into a dreamless sleep.

Akis dreamed that night, dreamed of a girl he never met before. She was an angel, pure and lovely, but something about her was less then angelic, was she one of these slyphs Aeneas was talking about? Her eyes were such a shade of blue that they matched the endless skies. Her long silver hair flowed from the top of her head down her slender elegant shoulders and ended at her knees. She wore a white dress that fell off her shoulders and gently lay perfectly on every curve of her body. The dress fell on the ground but she seemed to be floating because of her wings. Her wings glistened in the sun and had the appearance of stained glass and gave her an angelic glow. She then smiled softly at Akis and with a melodic voice spoke these words to Akis

" Young Akis, you are going down a dangerous path, you are full of anger and hurt, please, let me guide you toward the light."

Akis sneered at the offer; he was not going to be fooled by some obvious illusion. The angel with concern in her eyes spoke again to Akis

"Akis! Do not turn away, do not let yourself be taken in by the darkness"

" I need no help in this world, I have always depended on myself and myself alone, and in any case, you are either a drunken illusion or some kind of dream"

The angelic figure shook her head in disappointment "oh Akis, are you so stubborn as to not realize when you are in need help? Are you to close- minded to believe that there is a higher or mythical being who is concerned for you?"

Akis just looked down at the ground below him, he didn't want to let himself believe it and so he said to the slyph

"Since when has a higher being ever been concerned for me?"

The slyph, with a look of despair responded "I shall visit you again, once you have opened your eyes, until then, try to see beyond what is in the physical world and open your heart to others, you will realize that not all are bad or wicked"

Akis then shot up in his bed; he took a minute to realize where he was and then he felt the pain from the night before, including the new bruise he had on his stomach and a monster headache. Then he thought to himself as he glanced over at where Aeneas lay,

Was it a dream? Or a vision sent to me?