Eric Morris, the Fool

Through the Eyes of Elise Turned Eric

I was sleeping on a hard, cold floor. A droplet of water hit my cheek, and I woke up. Where is this? Seeing the gray ceiling and iron bars in front of me, I realized I was trapped in a cell.

An old man was standing before me—someone familiar, even detestable—a nemesis of sorts.

Congressman Amadeus!

"Did you sleep well, Eric Morris?"

"You!"

I tried to stand up quickly, but dizziness overwhelmed me—perhaps from anemia.

"It's better not to struggle. You've inhaled nerve gas. It'll take quite a while to fully recover."

"So I fell into a trap..."

"That's right. I figured you'd come quickly if I spread rumors in the slums."

What an oversight. I was already ensnared by him as soon as I headed to the slums.

Kraiss, the key witness who knew of Amadeus's past scandals, his former secretary who knew his secrets. If she was there, I would undoubtedly act.

Had I been too hasty? I was deceived.

"Where's the real Kraiss?"

"Who knows? We're still looking for her. More importantly..."

He prodded my chin with his cane.

"Where have you hidden the evidence you've gathered? I know you've been collecting proof of my sacrifices to demons. You collected demonic contracts while defeating demons, planning to finally take Kraiss as a witness and expose me to the newspapers, right?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

I played dumb, knowing full well there was no escape.

"So, where did you hide the demonic contracts? Not talking, huh? This!"

He struck my head with his cane.

"Ouch! I won't tell. I've risked death to gather this evidence... I'll see you prosecuted and sent to hell!"

"You're stubborn. Well, fine. Bring her in!"

To my shock, they brought in Clara.

"Clara! Get me out of this cell!"

But something was off.

"Did you call for me, Lord Amadeus?"

I was stunned.

The warmth in her eyes, once reserved for me, was gone, replaced by something cold, calculated.

"Clara, what are you saying? It's me, Eric!"

I desperately called out to her, but her response was chilly.

Amadeus smiled smugly.

"She's no longer the Clara you knew. She's my loyal servant now. Never underestimate the power of a contract with demons. It can even control human hearts."

Damn.

The worst-case scenario: Clara turned against me. And with her abilities, escaping this cell seemed even less likely.

"Clara, look at me. Remember the times we spent together. Are you really going to betray me for someone like him?"

I tried to awaken any remaining bond in Clara's heart.

However, she quietly shook her head.

"Eric Morris, you and I have no past. My master is only Lord Amadeus."

Despair crossed my mind.

"Hahaha... how can I not laugh? To see the fragility of a relationship built only on strength. The end of a fool who sought only power. Clara and I never had the true bond that Akira and his friends did."

Clara looked down at me with a cold gaze.

"Eric Morris, I'll ask one last time. Where are the demonic contracts?"

"I won't tell..."

I vowed to avenge my father.

For that, I had forsaken a woman's body.

"So be it. I'll curse you then. A curse that makes you suffer gradually for a month until death. You'll beg to speak once it takes hold."

As he began to cast the spell, I lost consciousness again.