1 Getting a name!

A boy with disheveled black hair and sickly pale skin was curled up in a ball, sitting by the side of the road. He was around 4'8 and was currently only 10 years old. His hair covered almost his whole face and head, but by the sides of his head if you looked closely you could see pointed tips of flesh.

This boy didn't have a name and only showed up around half a year ago. Well, in the eyes of the people walking on the street that was the case, in actuality the boy didn't just pop out of nowhere. He was from an ancient clan known as the Blood Elves, they had been extinct for ages.

Of course, nobody would know. His pointed ears were invisible to the general public, only to a certain group of people. They were called Wizards, but more on that later.

Currently, the boy was hugging his knees and watching the people pass by, as he did everyday. It was actually quite rough for him, he had to steal for food and sometimes he even needed to fight or kill to keep it. Thus, the boy was actually quite the ruthless person, but he wasn't affected at all by this as he knew that the world was a cruel place.

People stepped on other people's heads to get ahead, there was no other way. Being the last Blood Elf he had to live on or his race would completely die out, really the boy didn't care about his race that much. The way he saw it, he didn't want to die so he lived, coincidentally he was the last of his race so he could pass down his bloodline on the way.

The boy didn't have a name and couldn't care less to name himself, who would care? He was living on the streets, it's not like he had someone to talk to. The thought made him chuckle, which scared some of the passersby. Thinking that the boy was crazy they quickly sped past him or walked on the edge of the sidewalk.

The boy was still joyful even though he was living on the streets... He was very strange but also very smart. Being an Elf has it's fair share of perks, among them was increased intelligence and adaptability, also his eyes were very special. Not that they looked different but that they saw different.

The boy could see things that normal people couldn't see. For example...

A man and woman were walking with two little girls, one them looked to be about the boy's age while the other looked to be about a year younger.

The boy looked up and his red eyes stared at the younger girl in thought. The boy's movement attracted the attention of the family, the younger girl stared at the boy in confusion and the boy tilted his head revealing his pointed ears as he said in confusion "Maledictus?"

The man stopped and looked at the boy seriously after hearing what he said. The man walked over and said seriously "What did you say, boy?" The boy looked up and said again "Maledictus." as he pointed at the little girl.

The little girl thought the boy was a new friend and said "Mommy, can we take him with us? He has cool ears!" The man looked at his wife, who looked at her daughter helplessly before nodding with a smile.

The boy couldn't understand them really, the only language he knew was Elven and apparently nobody spoke it. He was able to say 'Maledictus' because it was a common term throughout all languages, also he could feel the other party's intentions.

The boy looked at the man in thought and didn't feel any hostility, more like pity and hope. The man crouched and smiled as he said "Do you want to come with us?" The boy was confused and frowned with pursed lips before speaking in Elven "You want me to come with you? Do you have food?"

The man couldn't understand at all and drew on a piece of paper, the boy looked at the paper and suddenly the drawing came to life! It showed a man holding a boy's hand and walking towards a house.

The boy was amazed and directly shouted vulgarities in Elven "Fuck, that was cool!" before touching the picture curiously and then looking at the man seriously. He might not speak English but he wasn't an idiot. He understood what the man was trying to say and directly pointed to his stomach, his stomach growled and then he pointed at the house and made a gesture of eating.

The man laughed and nodded, the boy jumped up and patted his chest as he said "I will follow you!" The man was stunned and the other three giggled at the boy's antics. The man shook his head and brought the boy with him as the family left.

The boy walked with the other kids and looked curiously at the younger girl, he leaned in and stared at her face before poking it. The young girl was stunned and said "Don't you know it's rude to touch someone like that?"

The boy narrowed his eyes and thought long and hard about what the girl just said before sighing and shaking his head. The man said "Astoria, he doesn't understand English." Astoria looked at her father and said in shock "He's an idiot?!" The boy felt his mouth twitch, he didn't understand but he felt like she just called him an idiot.

The man's lips also twitched as he looked at his daughter, wondering who the true idiot was. He didn't have to think about it for much longer, as she directly proved it herself.

Astoria looked at the boy and said extremely slowly "Dooooon't yooooou knoooooww thhhaaat itttt'sss ruuuuudeeee toooo toooouuccchhh pppeeeeooopppllleee liiikkkeeeeee thaaaaaaaaaaaat?" The boy knocked on her head and grumbled in Elven "I'm not dumb like you, we're speaking different languages!"

The other girl slapped her forehead and looked at her sister speechlessly, really not understanding what was going on in that head of hers. The man felt his eyes twitching constantly and hurried home before someone saw his daughter and gave him a pitiful look 'She's not like this usually!'

A while later

The boy entered a house and looked around in awe before clicking his tongue and saying in Elven "Better than the streets, that's for sure!" The man chuckled and walked through a door, into an even bigger house.

The boy rubbed his eyes and saw a plate flying around, he was directly stunned. He had never seen a plate fly before! Actually he had never seen anything fly before. The man said "Welcome. What's your name?" The boy was confused and the man scratched his head, thinking communication was going to be difficult.

Just as he thought this, a short pink creature with long pointed ears and a long nose with rags on walked out of the kitchen and said "Master, Madam, Grundle has prepar-" Grundle froze and looked at the boy before falling to his knees and coughing up blood.

The man and woman were shocked and said "Grundle are you okay?!" Grundle coughed and said "Master, Madam, Grundle is having difficulties." The boy walked over and squatted before poking at Grundle's ears and saying in Elven with doubt "What kind of Elf are you? You're not a High-Elf, Blood Elf, Dark Elf, or Wood Elf.."

Grundle looked up at the boy and spoke in Elven "I'm a House Elf, your Highness." The boy frowned and asked "What's a House Elf? Why do you look like this? Very unsightly." Grundle panicked and said quickly "If your Highness is displeased, Grundle shall kill himself!"

The boy smacked his head and said "What kill yourself? Answer my questions." the family was completely stunned, they didn't know that Grundle could speak a different language. The man said "Grundle, what is he saying?"

Grundle looked at the man before looking at the boy, and appearing to be in a tough position. This shocked the man even more, usually House Elves would listen to your every word! Grundle spoke once more "Your Highness, Master wants to know what you're saying. May I speak?" The boy slapped him again and said "Why do you keep asking for permission? Do what you want, so annoying!"

Grundle directly spat out another mouthful of blood and said to the man "He's asking me what I am, Master." the man nodded and said "Could you tell him, our names and ask him what his name is?" Grundle appeared to be pleading to the man to not make him ask this question. The man paid no attention to him and waved quickly.

Grundle spoke to the boy "Master would like your Highness to know his name as well as the rest of his family." The boy nodded and said "Speak." Grundle pointed to the man and said "Master's name is Marcus Greengrass." his finger moved to the woman and continued "Alyssa Greengrass." his finger moved to the older girl and said "Daphne Greengrass." then to the little Astoria as he added "And finally Astoria Greengrass."

The boy nodded and looked at Astoria as he said to Grundle "Do you know she is a Maledictus?" Grundle nodded and said "Even she knows, your Highness." The boy scratched his head and said "Why are they not treating her? Such a strange family." Grundle almost died of shock as he said "Your Highness you know how to cure this?!"

The boy waved his hand and said "Naturally. My inherited memories have all surfaced. Oh yeah! You never told me why you look like this. What is a House Elf?" Grundle replied respectfully "Your Highness, this is how I look. House Elves are like this. It is said that House Elves are the result of a forced hybridization between Human and Elf."

The boy looked disgusted and said "Nonsense! What kind of sick person would do this?!" Grundle looked awkward and said "This is what I believe to be the truth, your Highness." Grundle hesitated and The boy waved as he said "Speak, strange Elf." Grundle said quickly "Master would like to know your name. If your Highness is displeased, Grundle will immediately commit suicide!"

The boy slapped Grundle again saying angrily "Enough talk about suicide! I will really beat you to death myself if I hear it one more time! As for your question, I do not have a name." Grundle let out a breath and said to Marcus "Master, he said he doesn't have a name."

Marcus frowned and said "Ask him if I can give him one." Grundle started to sweat as he thought 'His Highness given a name by humans? He's going to blow his top for sure!' he turned to the boy and gulped before stuttering "You Highness, the master requested to give your Highness a name."

The boy nodded with a smile and Grundle was stunned before saying quickly "Master, he has agreed." Marcus rubbed his chin and Astoria said "Just call him Dumbo." Alyssa looked at Astoria and sighed before rubbing her head in pity. Astoria was confused, she thought it was a good name.

Marcus side eyed Astoria before saying "What does he think of Cross." Grundle relayed the name and the boy tilted his head to the side before pursing his lips and saying with great difficulty in English "C-Cro-Cross." Marcus smiled warmly and patted Cross' head, this little kid was pretty cute!

Cross embraced his new name and smiled before being escorted to a room by Marcus and Grundle, the rest went to do they're own thing. Cross walked into a room that could fit around 4 people comfortably. He was shocked and gave Marcus a thumbs up, Marcus laughed and said "This will be your room from now on, Cross."

Grundle translated and Cross nodded before saying "Ask him if he would like his daughter cured, also if he would like to witness an experiment." Grundle was confused but relayed the information, shocking Marcus half to death.

Marcus stuttered and closed the door as he said "Cross, y-y-you know a way to cure Astoria?!" Grundle translated cleanly and Cross said "Of course, it is in fact a lucky chance for the girl. Are there any Phoenix tears available?" Grundle translated with a wry look, Marcus froze and sighed as he shook his head.

Cross saw him shake his head and sighed as he said "The longer way it is..." Grundle translated again and Marcus said doubtfully "The long way?" Grundle translated and Cross replied "Simply keep a Mandrake leaf in your mouth for a month in your animal form and chant the Animagus Ritual backwards during a thunderstorm." Grundle translated and Marcus said in disblief "So simple?!"

Cross answered "Of course!" Marcus patted his head and said "Good boy! What is this experiment?" Cross bit his finger and grabbed Grundle before dropping a drop of blood in his mouth. Marcus felt his mouth twitch, why did he feel like Cross was a rogue.

Grundle stepped back and said in fear "Your Highness! You-" Cross rolled his eyes and said "Do you always talk so much? I just gave you a gift." Grundle couldn't answer but he felt eternally grateful, his body started to discharge blood, forming a cocoon around him.

Cross sat on the bed and swung his legs while humming as he watched.

Marcus was shocked and watched as the cocoon slowly shank, revealing a new Grundle! He was much taller now, standing at around 5'6. His ears were smaller and stood out straight instead of the droopy look they had before, his nose was completely normal and not huge, he had a head of short brown hair, and his face looked just like a normal person's. He basically looked like a handsome teenager with long pointy ears.

He was still wearing the same sack however. Grundle kneeled and said "Your Highness!" as tears dripped down, Cross waved and said "Now all you need is clothes." Marcus was still in a state of shock as he said "Grundle?!" Grundle stood up and bowed elegantly to Marcus "Master, what are your orders?"

Marcus was shocked and said "What happened to you?!" Grundle replied with a smile "His highness allowed my bloodline to evolve by assimilating a single drop of his own. I am now classified as a High House Elf." Marcus frowned intensely and looked at Cross, who was looking at him with a smile.

Marcus pulled Cross to him and said seriously "Never do this again!" Grundle was startled and translated, Cross was also startled and Marcus spoke again "This is very powerful! Many people will try and harm you if they find out you can do such a thing! This is not a joke, Cross. Promise me you will not do this kind of thing again!"

Grundle translated as Marcus spoke and Cross felt warm inside. He basically had no one to care for him for a long time, he teared up and tears fell as he hugged Marcus and nodded. Marcus felt bad for Cross and stroked his head softly with a kind look in his eyes, he made a decision in his mind and picked up Cross as he said "Tomorrow, I'll give you a surprise."

Grundle translated and Cross nodded while wiping his eyes with a smile, suddenly his stomach growled and Cross blushed embarrassingly. Marcus laughed and brought Cross out of the room with Grundle.