But that was a Wizard.
Even with the existence of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, the common people's impression of Wizards remained stuck on wicked magic and a primitive, savage lifestyle.
Unable to think of a solution, Oster had no choice but to reveal his deal with the Wizard to his wife.
"Foolish!"
His wife rebuked her husband for his stupidity without hesitation, "How could you agree to such terms? Where did your usual shrewdness go? The Wizard proposed the condition first, he must have learned the news through magic!"
"Then what should I do? Find just anything to give as payment?"
"No, this is Wizima. We are both devout believers of the Church, they will surely help us," Mrs. Oster said. The Church she referred to was the Church of the Eternal Fire, the only church in the Kingdom of Temeria, and the Temple Quarter of Wizima belonged to the Church of the Eternal Fire.
The Church did not allow believers to worship any other deities and expelled professions like Wizards and Witchers who walked among the commoners.
In Wizima, the Church of the Eternal Fire even had a private army—the Order of the Flaming Rose!
Did he really want to let the Church get involved?
Mr. Oster always felt his wife's idea was a terrible one. While their family was called nobility, in reality, they were just ordinary citizens.
Bringing the Church into this—on one side was a Wizard who possessed the Dark Arts, and on the other was the Church—caught in between the two, would they even have any room to speak?
"I need to think about this carefully."
Oster did not agree immediately.
...
Wizima was built in the center of a river valley; even in the sweltering summer, the air remained cool.
Coupled with its excellent and developed sewer system, it had quite the vibe of Venice, the city on water.
Walking up the embankment and entering the barbican, the first place they arrived at was the Temple Quarter of Wizima.
The Temple Quarter got its name because this area was the garrison for the Church of the Eternal Fire. In the center of the city stood St. Lebioda's Hospital and the headquarters of the Church's Order of the Flaming Rose.
The Oster family lived in the Trade Quarter of Wizima, located to the east of the Temple Quarter.
After boarding their two horses at an inn, Asa originally intended to head to Oster's home alone, but after hearing about his agreement with the merchant, Saskia Saosi showed great interest and pestered Asa to go and see with him.
Helpless, Asa agreed, and the two set off for the wealthy merchant's home.
The Trade Quarter was where nobles and wealthy merchants lived. Stepping from the Temple Quarter into the Trade Quarter, the road surface had already turned into a clean, cobblestone path. Dense rows of blue-brick buildings lined both sides of the street, with occasional two-story western-style houses visible, their balconies adorned with blooming flowers, forming a sharp contrast with the Temple Quarter and even Old Wizima.
Affluence and comfort were embodied to the fullest.
114 Trade Quarter.
According to the address the merchant left behind, Asa arrived in front of the wealthy merchant's house. It was also a two-story stone and brick building.
At this moment, the wooden door was tightly shut, the windows were drawn, and one could not see the scene inside the house.
Asa stepped forward and gently knocked on the door. Soon, the door opened, and the red-haired merchant poked his head out to look at Asa. Upon seeing it was Asa, he was startled at first, then forced himself to appear calm.
"Mr. Wizard, you've come."
"I have come."
"You... never mind."
Mr. Oster's complexion was not very good, but he still opened the door and invited the Wizard into his home.
Asa nodded with a smile and walked into the house with ease.
Saskia looked around curiously, also following in Asa footsteps.
The room was furnished quite luxuriously; it was evident the merchant's financial situation was quite decent.
The three of them sat down.
"Mr. Wizard, it seems that bandit didn't cause you much trouble."
The wealthy merchant spoke first.
"Mr. Oster, according to the law of surprise, I have come to collect my reward."
Asa did not take the bait and said indifferently.
The merchant's breath hitched. The topic being cut straight to the point by the Wizard made it impossible for him to say any more words of familiarity.
He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to try and muddle through it first:
"Thanks to your help, a few days ago when I returned home, the first thing I possessed that I did not know about was this set of furniture."
The merchant presented with both hands a set of cups made of transparent glass from the coffee table, forcing a smile:
"This is a precious set of wine glasses I bought at a high price from the distant East, worth 300 krowns. I wonder if it meets your approval."
In his words, he showed reluctance, as if he had suffered a great loss.
"Mr. Oster, didn't I tell you?"
"The moment the law of surprise is established, fates are already bound together."
"Who are you trying to fool with a newly bought set of tea glasses?"
Asa stood up, deciding not to waste any more breath on him:
"Where is your daughter-in-law now?"
Saskia sat on the side watching the show as if nothing concerned her, her eyes sparkling. The law of surprise sounded like some kind of agreement; could it be that the Wizard was asking the other party to offer up their own daughter-in-law as payment?
Learned something new!
"Th-th-this..."
Mr. Oster immediately became incomparably flustered. He was afraid the Wizard would use magic to punish him again, and he was also worried that if he defied fate, would his whole family become unfortunate?
But if he really had to let the Wizard take his child away, who could bear to do that?
Asa saw Oster's hesitation, and his tone suddenly turned soft:
"You don't need to worry. After the child turns 3 years old, I will come to take her."
"If she has talent, she will become a sorcerer, or perhaps a scholar? Isn't that a good thing?"
"Don't forget your promise. Are you still unwilling to tell the truth now?"
After saying this, his expression turned stern, and the air in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
It was not just seeming; it was truly dropping. Oster saw his own breath forming white mist and decisively gave in:
"Mr. Wizard, please wait a moment, I will notify them to come home immediately."
"As soon as possible."
Asa said.
Oster left Asa and Saskia sitting in the living room tasting black tea, and he went out alone.
When no one else was around, the dragon lady asked curiously:
"Lang, what is the law of surprise you established with this human?"
Asa explained the ancient custom of the law of surprise, as well as the ins and outs of the agreement he made with the merchant. Saskia listened with eyes shining:
"So there is actually such a way to legally take other people's children."
The dragon looked as if she was calculating where to bring back a Child of Surprise, lost in anticipation of the future.
Asa shook his head. A Child of Surprise was not so easily encountered; most of the time, the law of surprise could only yield some insignificant rewards.
Unless it was destined, and would leave behind a legend in the future, otherwise, it was purely a losing deal.
For example, Geralt, who was connected to Ciri because of the law of surprise.
Therefore, while individual effort is important, one must also consider the course of history.