A Minor

A low, long note floated through the hallways, followed by another lower, sharper note.

Three loud knocks were heard on the door.

“Miss, it is dinner time!”

With a click, the door creaked open, revealing Lilac, clad in a pale coloured dress, flute in hand, with ruffled hair and sagged eyes. She took the tray of food the servant was carrying and retreated back into the room, shutting the door.

Lilac stared at the delicious meal in front of her and the swirly patterns of the steam rising up.

After a couple minutes, Lilac finally picked up the bread and took a bite. Chewing slowly, she glanced at the photo of her with her old team, SLNE, sat on her desk.

They were smiling. Before the photo was taken, Lilac had a massive argument with Nova, but just by looking at the photo no-one could ever tell that there was any discord between them.

Beside the photo was an open notebook, filled with scribbles, notes and charts. Between its open pages was an old piece of paper with a cipher code.

After she finished her meal, she laid the tray outside her room door, and picked up her flute. She brought the flute by the mouth and played a gentle melody.

-=+=-

Lilac stepped out of her room, deciding to take a stroll. She walked along the corridors, taking various turns towards the garden. The lawn was broad and the numerous flowerbeds were filled with different exotic flowers.

“…And by adding the Catalysis Engine the efficiency would double,” Aarden Mona said at the phone, “and you need to try and incorporate a better weapons system! We’ve already got customer complaints about Grimm attacks being too fatal! Especially with the Grimm activity increase! ”

Lilac sat on a bench as she silently listened.

Aarden does not look remarkable in any way, having silver hair and hazel eyes, dressed in a brown coloured suit and grey tie. He was not particularly tall but wasn’t short either. His thoughtful eyes matched well with his well-kept moustache, making him seem like a amiable gentleman.

“…I don’t care if we lose money! We need our integrity! Just do what you can!” Aarden ended the call with a push of a button.

Lilac stood up and walked towards her father.

“Oh, hello Lilac,” Aarden smiled, “how’s your day?”

“Good,” Lilac replied cheerfully.

“You know that you’re taking the… incident incredibly well,” Aarden said, signalling Lilac to follow him to a nearby bench.

“Well I try not to think about it,” Lilac said, her fingers fidgeting the fabric of her dress.

“If you want to talk about it, I’m here you know.”

“Thanks dad, but no.”

A long pause.

“So how’s your day?” Lilac finally asked.

“The usual. Your mother organising a charity for Vale, customers complaining about our airships’ defence system and your cousin is still missing,” Aarden sighed, “sorry that I can’t bring any good news but that’s the truth of things.”

“Lei is still missing?” Lilac asked in surprise.

“Yes, I’m afraid,” Aarden answered, wrapping his arms around Lilac’s shoulder, “but don’t worry, you’ve survived. You’re back here with us, safe. That’s what matters the most.”

“Yeah…”

“Now relax while you’re with us,” Aarden patted his daughter’s back, “let’s go, it’s getting late.”

-=+=-

“Lilac!” a girl with flowing black hair shouted.

“Lilac!” another girl with short grey hair called.

“Lilac, why did you leave us?” the Faunus girl wearing crimson garments asked, hands outstretched.

“I’m sorry…” Lilac said, slowly backing into a corner, shaking her head, crying, “I’m so sorry… Please forgive me.”

“You left us Lilac,” the grey haired girl said.

“I’m sorry…”

Lilac woke up. She didn’t snap her eyes open, or bolt up, or anything dramatic. She just woke, squinting her eyes at the sunlight through the magenta glass patterns on the window.

“I’m so sorry,” she muttered as she lifted herself up from bed. She walked into the bathroom and finished all her morning preparations before hearing a knock on her door.

“Come in!”

The door opened in response, revealing a Faunus maid carrying a tray of food. She wore a plain blue uniform. Her soft, blue hair, hung in a ponytail, her small stag horns poking out of her head.

“Thank you Ayame,” Lilac said as the maid delivered the tray on her desk. Ayame nodded in response before making her way outside, gently closing the doors.

Lilac picked up her spoon, taking a scoop from the bowl of steaming congee and ate. On her free hand she picked up a pen, rhythmically drumming the table.

Lilac glanced at her notebook’s filled pages, full of attempts of deciphering the cryptic note. After she finished breakfast, Lilac placed the tray outside the door as usual, and walked back to her desk, flipping the notebook to the next blank page.

Just when she was about to open the pen lid and write, she noticed engravings on the paper, seemingly scratched by an inkless pen. Lilac tilted the page to her eye level, squinting so that she could somewhat make out the words. She ripped a blank page from the notebook ,noting down the words as she read them.

Lilac:

''I am writing this the night that I’m leaving the house, for I may not survive.''

''As you probably already know, I’m a trained huntsman, been taking up various missions by officials and some gigs by more informal employers. The last gig I was sent to was organised by a mysterious man. He only showed up in a mask and hid most of his body. He paid me five thousand Lien to go to the Mistral Council and retrieve some plans on some defence plans. The details are very vague but I completed the task anyway. But here’s the strange part. When I went back to the agreed meeting point, the money was just there. Only with a note threatening me if I tell anyone about it, I will die.''

''I, of course, ignored this warning, being me. I’ve decided to investigate this strange threat. I wouldn’t bore you with how I struggled and struggled to find out more about this client, but I’ve found out that he is definitely not a good guy (as I already suspected), with some vague links to the criminal world. I’ve just recently received a lead on this person operating somewhere in the south. Yesterday I got another threat for me to not proceed, so they’re onto me now.''

''Lilac, if you are reading this, go to Higanbana, find a guy who goes by the name of Umbra. He would explain everything. But I need to leave now. Stay safe.''

Your cousin, Lei.

Shocked, Lilac closed the notebook, furrowing her eyebrows. Still processing this information, Lilac remained still for several moments before taking the piece of paper which she copied the note down with her, rushing to see her father.

-=+=-

“Hmm…”

Aarden rubbed his chin in deep thought, “What are you planning to do?”

“Logically, I would just stay home, call the officials…”

“But?”

“Well,” Lilac continued, “the officials are probably too busy to help, so I want to go to Higanbana and find this ‘Umbra’ guy and find out information myself.”

“…and?” Aarden asked.

“But I don’t think that you’ll allow me to go.”

“I wouldn’t,” Aarden said, “not on your own.”

“What? Are you going to come with me?” Lilac asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course not! I’m too busy and I’m not trained. I’ll send Ayame with you.”

“So you’re letting me go then?” Lilac’s face lit up.

“Yes, but as I said, Ayame is coming with.”

“Oh thank you father!” Lilac squealed as she jumped up and down in excitement. Aarden smiled, seeing Lilac’s first expression of joy in months.

“Ayame!” Aarden yelled as Ayame entered the room a few seconds later, “I’m sending Lilac on a mission to go to find her cousin. You will be accompanying her on this mission.”

“Yes sir,” the servant answered as she bowed.

“Lilac, when are you planning to leave?” Aarden asked.

“Well, better sooner than later. I want to leave today. Like, now. Well maybe not now but you know, I want to go as soon as possible-”

Aarden raised a hand to stop Lilac from rambling further, “Okay. If you want to leave now then pack your things.”

“Yes father,” Lilac replied before rushing to her room enthusiastically.

Silence filled the room once more. Ayame began to move towards the door, but was stopped when Aarden called her.

“Yes sir?”

“Ayame, how long have you been working for us now?”

“Five years sir.”

“Five years,” Aarden paused, “time really flies.”

“Yes sir.”

“You’ve attended Sanctum and graduated with high grades. You could have easily passed the entrance exams for the major huntsman academies. Why didn’t you go?”

Ayame hesitated at the question, before replying, “I didn’t think that I would like to go into that field of work.”

Aarden just nodded, “Okay. Now do you know what to do?”

“Protect the mistress?”

“Yes. Don’t let her get hurt. I thank you Ayame for everything that you’ve done for our family. Now go and pack your things.”

-=+=-

Lilac stuffed the last items into her backpack, beginning to close it before noticing the objects on her desk. She walked over, collecting her pen and notebook, glancing at the photo of her old team. Letting out a deep sigh, she picked up the photo and laid it face down on the table.

Three loud knocks were heard on the door.

Lilac opened the door with a click, seeing Ayame with a bag on her back.

“Are you ready miss?” Ayame asked.

Lilac responded with a gentle nod.

