"Forgive me, My Lord! Believe me, when I say I did not accept that name, please My Lord believe me"
"How dare you!"
Mint's body shook in total fear, the sound of his master's voice subduing him, he always knew his master was a dangerous man.
"Please my Lord, I beg you, death can only be-"
"Man up and accept the name!"
'What?' he thought with a start raising his head, whatever does his master mean?
Cedric came close to the cell, Mint gulped awaiting his next words.
"Accept the name Dark Knight" his tone was sonorous and dark.
"B-But My Lord I can-"
"I'm quite familiar with your people and your ways"
He froze, he couldn't be, he had made sure he had masked his identity when he joined the Dark Knight, how come?
"A nameless Dark Knight... no a nameless shapeshifter rather, when bestowed a name he is made a familiar to who has named him"
"My Lord!" he barked, slamming his forehead on the ground, going in a very deep bow.
"How long have you conceal your identity, you reek of it"
"My Lord I-"
"I asked a question".
He gulps raising his head, there is no escaping the truth now. "I was orphaned at a young age, nameless with no master or of any use" he began as his mocha brown eyes grew wistful with memories of the past.
"I found refuge amongst the colony of Dark Knights, I was but four so they agreed to take me in and conceal my identity, even though it was my destiny to be one day named and granted a master... but I swore an oath never to be named as a Dark Knight because it was their most sacred laws, I did it to survive and knowing I was of no use even if I was named because I'm but a half breed"
"Half-human, half-werewolf," Cedric said.
He nods. "Yes my lord, My mother was human, my father a werewolf, I'm not only an orphan but a shameless child"
He raised his head.
"But how my lord, how did you come to know of my identity" He wanted to know before he was executed, he had not only failed in his duties but he lied his way into this household as a Dark Knight, he knew his actions were befitting as death.
"You reek of it but I paid no heed... and besides wounds sustained by Nightshades are deadly and fatal even for a Dark Knight, your wounds have been unattended for days but you're still alive".
"You have always known what I was and yet..." he was at a loss of words, he couldn't believe this, no one should be able to tell. What was this man before him?
A dark smirk found his lips, it gave him chills.
"Curious aren't you..."
"N-No my lord it's just that... in my childhood before I was orphaned my father often told us about our creator, only him who made us know of us, no matter how powerful anyone could be it was only him who knew of such"
"An interesting creator he must be," Cedric said in amusement.
Mint's just gulped.
"From this moment on you're stripped of your status as Dark Knight... You shall accept the name bestowed upon you by my wife"
Mint's eyes went wide.
"But My Lord, I'm not capable of becoming a familiar I'm but a half breed", he froze in his words when he saw Cedric's eyes, they seemed sad.
"My lord"
"She's already hurt by the fact I ordered you dead... probably hates me," he said in a ragged whisper. "So just accept the fucking name!"
"Y-Yes my lord, I accept the name bestowed upon me by my giver, I swear to be at her aid and serve her for as long as I may live" He announced faster than his brain could process it.
He recited the words just like his father taught him if he was ever named and made a familiar, to serve his giver. His chest felt warm and his blood rushing within his vein, this feeling, this sense of undying loyalty, he couldn't believe this when he thought he would never have a chance as a familiar because he was a half breed, tears leaked from his eyes, at long last he had a master all thanks to Lord Cedric, does this mean he would no longer be executed?
"Beowulf!" at the sound of his powerful voice, a few seconds later, a shadow merged forming a black werewolf, with crimson eyes. Mint was in awe, a full-blooded wolf was before him.
"This is Beowulf my familiar, he shall be your teacher"
"Magnus," he said with a bow.
Mint's heart nearly stopped when he heard the name, his eyes wide as saucers. 'No... it can't be' with that thought his body trembled.
Cedric placed his palm on the iron bars, it crumbled to dust in an instance.
"As of this moment you are no longer a Dark Knight... You're Mint the Silver"
Mint couldn't speak, his mouth hung open, chills running down his spine, Cedric tilts his head to the side.
"Fool! Your benefactor speaks to you!" Beowulf barked.
"F-F-Forgive m-m-me My Lord" Mint said frightened as he bowed down painfully, 'I don't believe this!' ramming thoughts were within his head.
"Magnus is the name you shall call me from now on"
"Y-Yes My Lo- Magnus, yes Magnus"
He heard his exiting footsteps, Mints raised his head still in shock, his brain unable to process.
"Mint The Silver", his head turned towards the black wolf who was now his teacher.
"I'm Beowulf The Black, remember that," he said, striding ahead.
"Well?" he said with a turn of his head. Mint quickly shook his head, stumbling up to his feet.
"F-Forgive me"
Beowulf sighed, this kid will be a handful, the best he survives or Magnus will have his head if he doesn't perform his duties properly, he already shivered at the thought.