Time rewinds to two days ago.
The blockade by the Church of the Eternal Fire was merely a small ripple; apart from those involved, no one knew that a conflict potentially affecting the entire city had occurred at the doorway of that small house.
But as one of the parties involved, Priest Cyrus Hermelfart believed this matter was far from over.
"They are all a bunch of heretics!"
Outwardly respectful to Mage Gadir, back at the sect's residence, Cyrus was ashen-faced, wishing he could send those two Wizards who toyed with Dark Arts to the stake, to die amidst the scorn of the citizens, to satisfy the hatred in his heart.
But Gadir was a Court Archmage who always stayed in the Royal Castle of Wizima; for him to go and cause trouble for Gadir was impossible.
Thus, Cyrus only wanted to punish that black-haired Wizard.
But he was just a minor priest, with priests, bishops, and archbishops above him; his authority was limited, and he could only mobilize a mere dozen knights from the Order of the Flaming Rose.
It was enough to deal with a fledgling Wizard, but the other party had the help of Court Mage Gadir, and perhaps other means.
He needed to find a way to rope in more people.
The moment he returned to the temple, Cyrus sought an audience with Mr. Gladden, the Bishop of the Temeria region.
The rot starts from the top.
Priest Cyrus was a narrow-minded person, but the temple Bishop, Gladden, was even more extreme than him, filled with the same prejudices against Sorcerers, Sorceresses, and even professions like herbalists.
The Order of the Flaming Rose, which had maintained justice and mercy in Wizima for centuries, had, under Gladden's influence, already begun engaging in activities like seeking personal gain and eliminating dissenters.
After hearing Priest Cyrus's account, Bishop Gladden's expression was equally grim:
"The Brotherhood of Sorcerers again."
He muttered, then looked at Cyrus, also not giving him a pleasant look.
As a priest of the Church of the Eternal Fire, he was afraid of a Court Mage. Even if Cyrus couldn't afford to provoke him, didn't he know that he carried the face of the Church of the Eternal Fire?
"How foolish."
Coldly casting down this assessment, Gladden stood up from his seat in his magnificent robes.
"However, the authority of the Church cannot be questioned."
"These past few days, go find out what that black-haired Wizard has been doing in the city. When is he leaving the city? You must find out clearly. As for your punishment, we'll talk about that after we deal with these heretics."
"Yes."
Priest Cyrus retreated with an ugly expression, but he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
It seems Bishop-daren will not let that Wizard go either; he is doomed!
Over the next two days, Cyrus utilized his informants in the city to monitor the black-haired Wizard's movements at all times.
Then his subordinates brought him news that the black-haired man had been soaking in a brothel for two days and two nights.
"Indeed, a twisted mind."
Priest Cyrus snorted coldly, though he felt a bit jealous in his heart.
At his age, let alone going to a brothel, even taking an extra look at his wife at home would give him nightmares for two or three days.
Finally, on the third day, the black-haired Wizard and his companion, a beautiful young girl, led their horses out of the city.
Cyrus knew this was the opportunity!
It was difficult to make a move on them while in Wizima, but once out of the city, he could easily pin the crimes on bandits or monsters, and no one would investigate.
"In that case, I will have Oga take 50 Order of the Flaming Rose knights with you to suppress the heretics."
The Bishop waved his hand, agreeing to Cyrus's request.
Prostrate on the ground, a smile curled at the corner of Cyrus's mouth. 50 fully armored knights equipped with anti-magic bombs made of dimeritium—even if a legendary mage came today, it would be one word: death!
"This is you delivering yourself to your doorstep."
Priest Cyrus thought bitterly.
...
"This is you delivering yourselves to your doorstep."
Asa looked toward the forest on both sides of the valley. The two sides were more than 500 meters apart, but if one listened carefully, the clashing of metal and the low conversations of the knights were clearly audible.
Do not underestimate his Witcher senses.
"Saskia, stay here and wait for me."
Asa said, preparing to mount his horse and walk into the forest alone to take care of these eyesores.
Having only walked two steps, Saskia called out to him from behind. Asa had to stop and look back, only to see Saskia on her horse looking dejected, on the verge of tears.
"Three times now, Sorcerer. Do you not consider me a true partner?"
It seems that repeatedly leaving the young dragon behind to act alone had again started making Saskia overthink things.
"How could that be? It's just that you have no deep hatred for humans. Once you kill someone, you won't be able to go back to being a free and unfettered dragon."
"In the future, you might get into trouble because of this."
There was another reason; the guardian behind Saskia might not necessarily agree to Saskia interfering in conflicts between humans.
"This is not like the adventurous life I imagined. You didn't say at the beginning that I had to stay behind you the whole time, being protected by you."
Saskia's tone sounded very sad, but looking up from below, Asa felt that although Saskia's little mouth was pouting, her eyes kept stealing glances in his direction.
"Besides, as a partner, I will definitely protect you well!"
"Alright, since you want to."
Things have come to this, why still be coy about it?
"Great, great!"
Instantly, Saskia's expression became sunny and bright again.
"Come on, ride me."
"Huh?"
Asa thought he had misheard.
Saskia cast him a look that took it for granted:
"Fighting side by side, right? You can't fly, so of course I'll carry you. A dragon and her human partner! That's how it's written in storybooks!"
Asa shook his head and chuckled.
"Alright."
Ride it is!
Agreeing to Saskia's request, the dragon girl, in her joy, also gave Asa an additional reward.
[Congratulations, your relationship with the important plot character "Saskia Saosi" has broken through to "Partner (Intimate)", there is a new reward available to claim!]