Garden Scarlet

The four traveled to the mirror halls, going up to the rose-covered mirror. The minute one of them touched it, the glass rippled and glowed. Within seconds, the four were walking into lush green lawns and hedges, with a red building in the background.

Grim and Xiniya marveled at the atmosphere. "Wooww~! This place is gorgeous! This is different from our dormitory!" the monster exclaimed, dancing down the path.

"O-ours is still in development!" Xiniya retorted but smiled at her small companion. 

Slowly they entered the rose maze searching for the entrance. They found a student, looking a few years older than them, with a paintbrush in his hand. He looked panicked, rushing around the garden. "Oh no, this is bad. I've gotta get these roses painted."

"Oh, there's somebody over here." Grim pointed out as they rounded the corner.

Cater turned in surprise. "Woah, careful. If anything is left unpainted, it's off with your head."

Xiniyia stared at the man and then at the painted flowers. "I feel like I've seen this before…" she whispered, putting a hand to her head in thought.

The new boy looked at her, then at the other freshmen confused. "Hm? Can I help you guys with anything?" he asks, putting down the brush.

"What are you doing?" Ace asked, eying the paintbrush and the roses.

The ginger raised an eyebrow. "This? As you can see, I'm painting the roses red." a smile gracing his lips.

All stared at him with surprise. "Eh? Why would you do that?" Deuce asked looking from his companions to the stranger.

The other just smiled. "Hm~ Your fresh reaction is so cute!" he gushed before scanning each freshman. "Now that I look at you closely, you're the freshmen that busted the ten million madol chandelier yesterday."

Ace sighs, looking at the ground. "We're gonna hear about the chandelier until the day we graduate…" he grumbled.

He then turned to Ace, his eyes widening slightly before smiling. "And You're the one who added on more punishment by stealing the dorm leader's tart last night!" He said, his smile becoming even brighter. "I feel so lucky getting to meet the notorious new freshman first thing in the morning." he then jumped and took out his phone. "Hey, hey, hey~ Let's take a picture together! Yay!~" he takes a photo, surprising everyone for a second. "Can I put this on Magicam? Tell me your names so I can put you in the tags."

"I'm Deuce Spade."

"Ace."

The monster climbs from the supervisor's shoulder. "Grim and that kid is Xinyi," he said pointing to the one carrying him. The girl looked up slightly and waved, her amber eyes barely peeking out.

The stranger looked at her with suspension and curiosity, before continuing on his phone. "Okay! Upload complete." he turned to the freshman, his friendly demeanor coming full force. "Ah, I'm your senior, third-year Cater Diamond. Call me Cater. Cay is fine, too. Nice to meetcha~"

"Nice to meet you, too." Xinyi returned the greeting, smiling at him. 'Such a great easy-going person…' she thought, shaking his hand.

Cater looked at her a moment longer before realization was evident on his face. "Oh, you're the supervisor from the Ramshackle Dorm I heard about. Good on you, living in a place like that!" he said before his smile became wicked. "It's super dark and you can't get a good magicam in there. You have my sympathy."

Grim glared at Cater. "This guy is kinda rude." he wines causing Xinyi to chuckle.

The senior stared at the girl more before jumping as he realized the time. "Oh, I don't have any time for small talk!" he picks up the brush again. "The party is in two days. I don't wanna lose my head for being late." he glances over at the group once more. "Hey, you guys wanna help with paint?" he looked at them still smiling.

"Why are you doing something so weird?" Ace asks, his brow scrunched up in confusion.

"Red roses at a party are the most photogenic! I guess?" Cater shrugs his shoulders, and starts to list out his chores. "I've also got to change the flamingos' colors for the croquet match…"

"You're changing the flamingo's colors!? Your chores are so weird." Grim whispered, causing Xinyi to nod in agreement.

Deuce on the other hand analyzed the word being said, a hand on his chin in thought. "So in other words, the tart Ace stole was going to be used for the dorm leader's birthday party." he looked at Cater. "That's why he was so mad…"

Cater shook his head and laughed. "Nope? That's not it."

Ace looked flabbergasted. "It's not!? Then who's birthday was it for?"

"It's not anyone's birthday. The day after tomorrow is our dorm's traditional 'Unbirthday Party'." Cater explained, painting another rose red. "The dorm leader chooses a random day that isn't anyone's birthday and we have a tea party."

"The heck kind of tradition is that!?"

Cater just shook his head. "Anyway, the reason can wait!" he grabs two buckets with brushes inside. "All you have to do now is make the roses red! Deuce, Grim, you two can use magic right?" Both nodded so he turned to the last two. "Ace, Xinyi, since you can't use magic here's some paint." Xinyi took the bucket with a nod and started to go to work. Ace was less willing and decided to glare at the red paint.

"We can change the color with magic?" Deuce asked, looking at Grim who had jumped off his tamer's shoulders.

The monster just shrugged. "I've never done anything like that.".

Cater just laughed looking at the two. "Okay, it's fine, just relax! We'll figure it out! We better hurry if we don't wanna lose our heads to the dorm leader~"

If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does,

Lewis Carroll Alice's Adventures in Wonderland