"Hush my lady what is wrong?"
"You scared me whoever you are" I tapped the hands away reaching for me in panic, as I moved backward, my eyes adjusting to the light.
"Forgive me my lady for starling you"
Hold on a minute that voice seemed familiar and that peppermint scent, my eyes went wide.
"M-Mint?"
He steps into the light, my breath caught as I saw him, he had white hair packed neatly behind, beautiful mocha brown eyes, a mark slashing one of it but it was faint that you almost couldn’t see it, he looked no less than 20, his young charms were alluring, he was dressed in all-black attire, a Kaer Morhen armor to be precise, and it showed off all his daring built-up body, a sword stationed behind his back, and he didn’t seem dead, he looked very much alive.
"Mint," I said in shock.
"Yes, my lady," he said with a very deep bow. I was at a loss for words.
☆☆☆
Olivia settled the place of food on the table, I could tell Mint’s mouth watered when he saw it, but he made no action towards it.
"You can eat Mint"
As if waiting for my command he launches at the chicken. Olivia giggled at his antics as she hurried away from my Chambers, I regretted waking her so late but she didn’t seem to mind.
"Forgive me my lady if I seemed uncultured I have not eaten for so long"
"W-What?" I said with wide eyes, he wasn’t making any sense right now, first I thought he was dead and here he was right now.
He swallowed hard on his meat.
"Well where I trained we do not eat there," he said with a smile.
"Mint, you have to make more sense... aren’t you supposed to be dead, I mean look at you, you’re alive," I said, still finding it hard to believe, I sure hoped it wasn’t a ghost before me, or else I might faint.
"I was training to become stronger as your familiar, the place I trained time runs very differently, it has been 2 years over there"
I was sure my eyes were wide as saucers right now, the fact he hadn’t eaten that long or the fact time runs differently, I got more confused but a name caught my attention and it seemed familiar.
"Familiar?" I finally found my voice.
"I was not dead My lady but rather I had to stay dead for I’m no longer a Dark Knight, I am now Mint the Silver, your Familiar. I will serve as your guide and protector that what it means"
I knew I heard the word Familiar from somewhere, it was the same meaning he gave, when I was reading in Cedric’s library I came across some books about it, Familiars were shapeshifters and its in their destiny if named they will serve their giver for as long as they shall live, when I found that out I figured that "Beowulf" I came across was something like that to Cedric.
But hold on I thought only Shapeshifters were made Familiars could it be? My widened eyes were now fixed on him, as if sensing my curiosity he continued.
"The truth is I’m a half-werewolf and my kind acts as such familiars when they are named, you gave me a name but I didn’t accept it because I was still a Dark Knight, it was all thanks to your kindness as well as Ma- I mean Lord Cedric that’s why I’m here today"
I quickly caught on, he was about to say Magnus but he quickly corrected himself.
"You mean Lord Cedric saved you"
He nods.
"Rather than my death he made me your familiar, I still wondered what changed his mind, I knew I was dead for sure"
I gulped, hard, the realization getting to me.
"My lady"
My gaze fell on him, he stood up bowing. "Forgive me for not protecting you properly, I will be sure to do it properly this time"
"Please stop," I said, rising to my feet. He raised his head, a smile formed my lips.
"You protected me so well, and I’m forever grateful"
"I’m grateful too if you accept me, my lady"
"S-Sure I accept you as long as you’re alive and well"
He grinned widely showing his perfectly white teeth, this was all too much to process but I was glad he was alive, which could only mean Cedric wasn’t at fault but I was... for not trusting him, but how was I supposed to when he’s always walking around emotionless, he made it pretty clear that he was going to kill Mint, ugh!
"My lady," Mint said as if sensing my shift in mood.
"Sorry... so how does this work, I’m not used to the idea of having a familiar"
He smiled. "I will always be in the in-between but when you call for me I shall be at your aid, I will be there for you even though far away but you must call my name that’s the only way I can come to you" he explained.
He eyed the unfinished chicken for a split second, I giggled at his action.
"Go on eat," I said in amusement, he nodded like a child before sitting back down and devouring the chicken so fast, before I could blink, he chugged the water before standing back up.
"Wow," I said, stunned.
"That was... fast"
He smiled. "You wanted to go somewhere my lady, I shall escort you" he offered.
"Um" I looked sideways, I suddenly didn’t want to see Cedric anymore, the guilt getting to me hard, I offended him and accused him of killing Mint, how can I face him after what I did.
"No... I wasn’t" I said in a whisper as my eyes saddened.
Mint frowned. "Is everything alright my lady?" he asked in a worried tone.
"Yes... yes I’m fine, I’m so happy you’re alive Mint, don’t worry since food aren’t allowed in the um"
"Where I trained the In-between," he said.
"Right the In-between, I will make sure I will prepare something for you" I offered.
"You don’t have to worry about that my lady cause whenever I’m over there I do not feel hunger"
"Which makes it the best reason to do so," I said with a smile.
He grinned. "Thank you, my lady," he said with a bow. "Then I must go now, please be sure to call my name if you need me, I will always find you" with that he vanished into silvery shiny lights like he was erased.
I was just awestruck.