Gerard's estate was located on the edge of Vale, completely isolated from any other buildings for several miles. It was a bit of an annoyance considering I didn't have a car to get me there in a reasonable time, but I wasn't exactly going to complain about it.

I left my bakery in the city proper at around six in the morning and was just now reaching the estate at around eight. I had enjoyed the walk all things considered, the area outside of the city was nice and tranquil this early on a Saturday, those who didn't have work deciding to sleep in instead of heading out for the morning.

The area Gerard's estate was in was especially tranquil. It was situated on a large plot of forested land that was still within Vale's walls. That meant that there were no Grimm to be found, and that nature could flourish uncontested. My sensitive ears could pick up the sounds of animals running around deeper into the forest, something I hadn't ever heard in the city.

The mansion, because there was nothing else it could be called, wasn't too opulent. It was massive certainly, but it was tasteful, not the tacky display that could be seen in the richest of Atlesian nobles. Gerard clearly had money, but it seemed that he wasn't looking to display said money ostentatiously.

As I walked up to the large gates in front of the estate, they swung open automatically, startling me slightly. The following voice however, nearly made me jump out of my boots.

"Hello!"

"AH!"

My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the woman who had greeted me.

She was a relatively young woman, early twenties if I had to guess, with tan skin and dark hair. Said hair hung around the shoulders of her well fitted dark-blue suit, framing her slightly round face and bright green eyes.

From underneath her hair, I could just barely see a pair of furry ears on the top of her skull. They were rounded, reminding me of an otter or maybe a bear, though her slender form suggested the former. Most faunus took at least tangential aspects of their heritage after all, it was why my legs were so well-muscled despite me not really working out at all apart from my nightime excursions.

As I studied the woman further, I could just barely make out the freckles lightly dusting the bridge of her nose and her cheeks. Her expression was contorted in surprise as she stared at me

"Oh!" She exclaimed as she took in my startled appearance, "Are you okay?"

I placed a hand to my chest, taking deep breaths as I calmed down from the sudden surprise, "Yeah. Yeah I'm good… You really scared me there. I can normally hear people's footsteps long before they actually get to me."

I looked down at her feet, noting the heels she was wearing with a confused expression, "I'm not sure why I couldn't hear yours. You're wearing heels."

The woman giggled, "I have learned just the right way to walk in these so I don't make too much noise." She explained happily, "Lord Gerard doesn't appreciate unwanted noise when he's taking care of important business."

She gasped suddenly, "Oh dear, I haven't introduced myself have I? Lord Gerard would be very disappointed in me."

She curtsied, hands coming down to lightly grip the edges of an invisible dress as she dipped, "Eina Minsel, Lord Gerard's personal assistant, at your service."

I smiled lightly as she rose, offering a shallow bow of my own, "Rei Lynx, nice to meet you."

She smiled at my display, "It's a pleasure Ms Lynx. Lord Gerard informed me to expect you sometime today, though I'm sure he'll be glad you decided to show up at such an early hour. He prefers to get business done as soon as possible, you see." She explained, before turning and gesturing toward the open gate, "Please, follow me. I will take you to him."

I followed behind her, the gates swinging closed behind us as we made our way up to the large doors of the mansion. The doors were massive, metal knockers on the surface engraved with symbols I couldn't read.

Eina reached up and placed her hand on one of the metal rings and as she did so, I felt a flare of something, and I couldn't help but be reminded of the dust vial I had recently stolen. I watched in surprise as the knocker glowed a soft blue, before the door swung open to allow us entry.

"This way please." Eina spoke as she led me inside. I followed behind, glancing backwards as the doors swung closed behind us, noting the lack of any visible mechanical parts that were normally seen on automatic doors. The glow was gone and so was the feeling it produced within me.

The inside of the mansion was just as elegant as the outside. Lacquered wood floors were covered by plush blue rugs with golden designs embroidered into the edges. The walls were covered in tasteful paintings, some of nature and some of figures that bore a remarkable resemblance to the very man I was there to meet. Uncannily so actually.

I stared at one such painting. It featured what looked like a much younger Gerard, his arm thrown around the shoulders of a woman with fiery red hair and pale skin. She was grinning with something akin to resigned fondness, a small smile barely visible on her face as blue eyes looked up at the painter.

It couldn't possibly be Gerard though. While a good portion of the painting was faded, leaving much of the background unable to be discerned, the small portion I could make out reminded me of a castle, a single stone spire visible among the damaged paint. The last intact castles had fallen into disrepair long ago, relics from a bygone era that nobody but the most studious scholars cared to remember let alone preserve. The painting was clearly decades-if not centuries-old.

"Ah, I see you've found one of Lord Gerard's favorites." Eina's voice broke me out of my trance as the woman walked up behind me.

I looked back at her in confusion, "What do you mean?"

She sighed softly as she stared up at the painting, "I often find Lord Gerard spending hours at a time simply standing here staring at this painting. It holds a special place in his heart." She turned to me with a conspiratorial smirk, "Honestly, the only reason I think it's out here in the hall instead of his study is so he doesn't spend all of his time staring at it."

"What's so special about it?" Sure, it was a nice painting. But it was so faded to the point that only the center was even discernable.

Eina shrugged, "I'm not entirely sure to be honest. He says it's a painting of his ancestor Gerard the First and his eventual wife Hera, but the way he stares at it…" She stared at the painting for another moment before shaking her head, turning back to me with a smile, "Well then, we've spent long enough dawdling I believe. Let us resume our journey."

She began making her way through the halls once more, myself following close behind. I cast a fleeting glance back at the painting, and the piercing green eyes of the woman inside seemed to follow me as I exited.

As we walked, my mind went back to the doors and the feeling I had received from them, "So what was that back there?" I questioned as we made our way deeper into the mansion

"Hm?" Eina looked back at her, "What are you referring to?"

I pointed back towards the doors, now well out of sight given how far we had walked, "The doors. How did they open and close like that? They just looked like regular doors to me, no mechanics or anything."

Eina made a small 'ahh' of recognition, "Oh that. I'm afraid the amount of information I can give you regarding the specifics is limited, but you are indeed correct that no mechanics are involved."

"Is it like your semblance or something?"

"In a sense I suppose." She said hesitantly, "I realy am afraid I can't tell you more however. I honestly shouldn't even have told you that much."

Well that sucked, "I see…" I said quietly.

She seemed to sense my disappointment, and turned to me with a comforting smile. "Don't worry Ms Lynx, if Lord Gerard has taken such an interest in you to actually offer you employment, I have a feeling that all will be made clear soon enough."

Before I could unwind that statement, Eina stopped in front of a large door, "Here we are!" She placed her knuckle against the wooden surface and knocked three times, "Lord Gerard? Your guest has arrived."

"Enter!" Came the voice I recognized as Gerard. Eina placed her hand on the door handle, which once again glowed blue and filled me with the strange sensation, before a click was heard as it unlocked and opened slowly.

Gerard was sitting at a large dark wood desk near the back of the room, it looked like he had been staring intently at a stack of papers when Eina had called out to him, "Hm? Ah, Ms Lynx! It is wonderful to see you!" He placed the papers down on his desk as he rose to greet me, "You didn't have too much trouble finding the place I hope."

I shook my head as I made my way over to him, "No not really. Yours is pretty much the only place for miles, pretty easy to find honestly."

He held his hand out to shake, and I did so happily, "Yes well, I do like my privacy," he released my hand, gesturing to a small sitting area at the edge of the room, "Come, sit. Eina, bring our guest and I some refreshments please."

Said woman bowed lightly, before turning and walking out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.

I followed Gerard to the sitting area, looking around and studying as I did so. The walls were covered with thick books, times really, whose names ranged from 'History of Valean Architecture' to 'The Impossibility of Grimm Mating Rituals'.

I didn't even know grimm could even breed. In fact, I was pretty sure they couldn't.

'I guess that's why it's not the Possibility of Grimm Mating Rituals.' I mused to myself as I sat down across from my host. Gerard took the seat across from me, sighing in contentment as he sank into the plush chair.

"Hmm…" He sighed, "I truly must thank the person who recommended these chairs. Vacuo imports, extremely high quality wool linings, really conforms around your body when you recline in them. One of my best purchases to date."

"They are very comfy." I agreed as I settled into my own chair. It was quite possibly the softest chair I had ever sat in in my life, perfectly plush yet firm and supporting in all the right places.

Now that I actually had money, I was tempted to get one for myself. Though I had a feeling it would just look extremely gaudy sitting by itself in my loft. Next to my queen sized mattress that barely fit on the frame.

As we got comfortable, my mind couldn't help but go back to the vial I had stolen, along with the things I had been feeling ever since I had entered the manor. I was filled with a yearning curiosity; what exactly was causing these feelings? Was it something Gerard had done? And how was it connected to the vial?

Even now, over a week later, I couldn't quite describe the experience. It was as if something within the vial had been reaching out to my very soul, yearning to make contact with my very being and do something I couldn't even imagine. I wanted to know what exactly could cause this feeling, and I had a feeling only Gerard had the answers I sought.

I figured there was no harm in simply asking. Gerard had been more than reasonable in both of our previous talks, he wouldn't kick me out over a simple question, "What did you do with the vial I stole?"

He hummed lightly at my question, "I am afraid I cannot tell you that Ms Lynx. It is a secret I must keep very close, you see. There is no telling what would happen if someone were to find out exactly what I am trying to do. Those with dubious intentions would no doubt seek me out if they ever caught wind."

I kept my disappointment from showing on my face, "I understand. And I'm sorry if my asking offended in any way. I was just… curious I suppose."

Whatever Gerard was doing with the vial I had stolen was none of my business. And despite my mind going back to the odd feeling I had gotten both times I had seen the vial uncased, and much as a massive part of me yearned to question just what was inside of said vial, I knew it wasn't my place to ask.

I put it out of my mind, that wasn't why I was here in the first place. It was time to get down to business.

I sat up in my chair, doing my best to look professional despite wearing a jacket and skinny jeans, "I suppose we should get down to business then."

Gerard nodded, straightening in his own chair, "Yes, I suppose the pleasantries can wait until after we are done." He cleared his throat lightly, "Well then Ms Lynx, when we spoke over the phone you told me you accepted my offer of employment with some conditions."

I nodded, "Yes. Your offer is extremely generous and a large part of me wanted to just accept right then and there. I gave it some thought however and there are certain terms I need to ensure are known before I agree."

To my relief, Gerard nodded. "Completely understandable. Only a fool agrees to such a high paying position without first making their own terms known." And at his smile, I couldn't help but feel I passed some kind of test, "Please, state them plainly."

I took a deep breath, before beginning to lay out my terms, "First of all, no killing. Full stop." I stated firmly, "I'm not a soldier, I'm not an assassin, I'm a thief. I will not kill anything but grimm. If I must kill in self defense, so be it, but you will not force me to do so."

Gerard nodded lightly, "More than reasonable Ms Lynx, I hired you as a thief so it would be foolish of me to attempt to force you to be anything else."

That was good. Honestly that had been the dealbreaker of all of my terms. I could have probably been bargained with on the other two, but I had no intentions of becoming a murderer, no matter how much he paid me.

"Second of all, I want to continue operating from my Bakery." This was probably the most personal of my requests. I had promised Ruby that things wouldn't change between us-or more specifically worsen, I wouldn't mind things changing for the better. I intended to keep that promise.

"Of course." Gerard agreed, "I understand that your shop holds a good deal of sentimental value to you, I will not ask you to leave it. In fact," He pulled his scroll from a pocket inside of his coat, tapping on it lightly before replacing it back where it came from, "Give me a small while and I will have your little issue with Hei-Xiong's ruffians dealt with."

I stared at him with wide eyes. I had never said anything about Junior's goons visiting my shop, or that I actually held a good deal of sentimental value to my bakery. How had he…?

I shook my head, it didn't matter. He had found me when I hadn't even broadcasted my presence to the greater Valean underworld and had somehow discovered my real name and phone number with little difficulty. This shouldn't be surprising at this point.

"Thank you." I expressed my gratitude.

Gerard simply waved me off, "Please, no thanks are needed. I will not have an employee of mine accosted by some common grunts. It is the least I can do." He gestured towards me, "Go ahead and finish stating your terms. Misa will deal with Xiong and his gang of ne'er do wells."

I smiled lightly, "My last term is the right to veto contracts that I feel are too dangerous." Here, Gerard frowned lightly and I hastened to explain, "Outside of the vials you've specifically contracted me to steal I mean. I understand that was the entire reason you hired me so of course I won't ask to veto any of the contracts to steal them, or ones that specifically help with the heist. I simply wish for the opportunity to not go on any jobs that I know I can't complete."

That seemed to placate him, and he nodded as his frown disappeared, "That sounds agreeable, I wouldn't wish to send you on a mission you didn't believe yourself ready for."

I smiled happily at his agreement, "Those are all of my terms."

"Very well Ms Lynx, I find all of your terms agreeable. But I would like to add two of my own in addition to yours if that is alright with you." He offered.

I nodded, "You're the one employing me. It would only be fair."

"You will not disclose the nature of the contracts or training with anybody I do not specifically clear." Here, any geniality that he previously had shown disappeared as his eyes peered into mine seriously, "It is of the utmost importance that nothing we accomplish together is told to those who would seek to undermine our efforts."

That meant I wouldn't be able to tell Ruby about the contract unless he specifically said I could. And while that would be difficult, it wasn't anything I couldn't manage. I nodded in agreement to his first term.

"And lastly, you will undergo training here at my estate at least twice a week." At my confused look, he explained, "Every person in my employ has at least intermediate combat training, from the chef to my personal guards, nobody is untrained. You did not attend a combat academy did you?"

I shook my head lightly, "No I didn't. I've got my aura and my semblance, along with my weapon Trick and a decent skill in using him, but even the weakest hunter or huntress would probably wipe the floor with me without much effort."

He hummed, stroking his beard lightly, "We will have to change that, perhaps get you an additional weapon. Even those in my employ with the least combat acumen could stand toe-to-toe with most regular guardians." I had never heard hunters referred to as guardians before, but I supposed it made sense.

All in all, his terms were extremely reasonable and I couldn't find any reason to disagree with them. They were simple and concise, and honestly better than most other clients I had worked with. I nodded, "Alright, I suppose that's reasonable. I agree to your terms."

Gerard gave a wide smile, "Wonderful! Then we are in business! I am glad we could so quickly come to an agreement on this matter."

Just then, I was filled with the strange sensation that was quickly becoming familiar and the door to the room opened to reveal Eina, two trays held in each of her hands, "Lord Gerard, here are the refreshments you requested."

"Ah Eina, perfect timing. Ms Lynx and I were just finishing up." He stood and grabbed the trays from his assistant, bringing them over and placing it on the table while at the same time dismissing her.

As Eina closed the door behind her once more, Gerard gestured at the spread he had sat upon the table, "Come Ms Lynx, take your fill of the spread. I understand you are a baker at heart and you simply must try the chocolate macarons. They're an old family recipe."

I chuckled lightly as I did as he said, grabbing one of the small treats from its place among the others in the tray and popping it into my mouth.

The moment it touched my tongue, my tastebuds practically exploded with flavor. The lightly crunchy exterior combined with the creamy buttercream interior, filled my mouth with an incredible sensation, and I hummed happily as I chewed the treat.

As I consumed the treat, I couldn't help but notice just how similar this macaron was to the ones my grandfather had taught me to make; that his grandfather had taught him to make and so on and so forth.

But that was impossible. The recipes for our baked treats had been in our family for centuries, well before the war and are never shared outside of the family. There was no possible way Gerard could have it, it was probably just a similar recipe.

I swallowed the treat, wiping my mouth with a small napkin, "These are delicious Gerard. If everything your servants make is as good as these are, I'm sure I'll enjoy working with you immensely."

And I was being completely truthful. While I didn't know exactly what the future held, I had a feeling that being employed by the man before me wouldn't be so bad. Something in the back of my mind told me I had made the right decision.

As Gerard and I settled into less business related conversations, I smiled happily as I grabbed another macaron from the tray.

They really were quite good.

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