Complete the wise wizard's tutorial dialogue for the new adventurer by choosing the correct phrase for each blank.

Before you face the dragon, let me give you some advice. If you plan on working as a mercenary, you will need patience, courage, and a suspiciously large sword.

Before you face the dragon, let me give you some advice.

In English, "advice" is an uncountable noun. You cannot count it, which means you cannot use "an" before it, nor can you add an "s" to make it plural ("advices"). To express a quantity, use "some advice" or "a piece of advice."

If you plan on working as a mercenary, you will need patience, courage, and a suspiciously large sword.

When stating someone's profession or role, English requires an indefinite article (a or an). You cannot drop the article entirely. Since "mercenary" starts with a consonant sound, we use "a."