Stephen Hampres was a refined, mild-mannered man with a neatly trimmed mustache and captivating dark brown eyes.
On the surface, he was a furniture merchant. In truth, he organized psychological seminars and was an important member of the secret organization known as the Psychology Alchemists. He answered directly to Pride, a member of the Supreme Council.
But after the Dragon of Imagination, Ankewelt, took complete control of the real Pride and implanted a Virtual Personality in him, Stephen was also deeply hypnotized. He worshipped the new Pride like a god. For his "lord," he would even give his life.
Of course, he had no idea anything had changed within him. It all felt perfectly natural.
This time, he had come to Kabas Town under orders. His task was to wait for a certain change in the mysticism book he carried, then recite the Honorific Name of a great existence in Ancient Hermes to activate the Mystical Pact ritual prepared within its pages.
And when Professor Mosar's student broke down and "created" a host of monsters, Stephen clearly felt the book change. He immediately followed his lord's instructions and began to recite the Honorific Name belonging to the Hidden Sage.
But then something unexpected happened. Stephen was so excited that he bit his tongue before he could even finish the first word!
He bit down so hard that he severed the front half of his tongue and spat out a great mouthful of blood.
But a little pain could not shake his resolve to complete his lord's task. He grabbed a glass of chilled ale from the table and poured it into his mouth, hoping the cold and alcohol would numb his tongue enough for him to finish the remaining words.
Then another accident struck. The ale glass had become so