The Mechanical Era

The sun was just rising on the horizon, marking another day for the city of Vallina. Friedrich walked on the paved stone pathway alongside Sofia. Friedrich and Sofia both wore a matching green tunic, with blue leggings.

Sofia however had a red scarf on her head and carried the two simple buckets of water filled with water, while Friedrich carried two hedge shears on his left hand and a water bucket on his right.

Besides the pathway were a bush of yellow flowers, giving a nice faint smell to the garden. They soon approached the entrance gate. Beside the golden gate were two bush hedges cut perfectly into mimicking two cats.

Sofia opens the gate and enters the garden with Friedrich. She walks him to a shed, where a bunch of more gardening tools like rakes, gardening trowels, gardening forks, and more, including some rusty hedge shears.

"Was that the reason why you wanted to bring these?" he asked.

"Why yes, of course. The original pair have unfortunately gone blunt." Sofia replied. Friedrich kept the hedge shears on the shelf and followed Sofia out. She have him the watering can.

"Since you are new, we will be watering some of my flowers. Afterwards we will use the new pair of shears to cut out some of the hedge statues, then rake any fallen leaves away." Sofia said.

"When will the others arrive?"

"Unfortunately, due to unexpected circumstances, they won't be joining us today." Sofia replied.

"What happened?"

"They were assigned some duties to complete by the principal himself."

"In that case, will we start right now?" he asked. She smiled.

"Of course! The two of us are now responsible for compensating for their absence." she replied. She then filled up the watering cans with water and gave one of them to him. He held it while she filled up the other watering can.

"Let us begin." she said. They made their way out of the shed and back to the lush flower garden. From all corners of his eye, the place was filled with blooming flowers and hedge statues of animals, lined perfectly as if it was an art piece.

The flowers itself were all perfectly segregated from each other according to color and type. All of them were contained in brown rectangular flower pots with diamond shaped patterns. Friedrich observed the hedges closer out of heed. It all looked so smooth, so precisely cut.

"Hey Sofia, did you make all these hedge statues?" Friedrich asked.

"Unfortunately I did not. As I lack possession of the skills in topiary. Though I have been practicing." she replied.

"Oh. So was it the previous owner?"

"Absolutely. He tasked me to maintain them for him. To that I think I might have performed well." she replied.

As he went over to pour water to the flowers, from the corner of his eye he spotted a group of flowers not planted in a pot. They were all tulips, with one being a black one a bit to the right, while the other 5 being white tulips all close together.

"Hey Sofia, what is up with those flowers?" he asked while he pointed his finger at the flowers. Sofia smiled when he showed her what he meant.

"Oh, those flowers were first planted when I arrived at the academy." she replied

"Alright, but what's up with the black one?" he asked.

"That was planted before I gained this garden." she said.

"Is that so?" he asked.

"Quite. Though I originally wanted to remove it, I haven't gotten around to it."

"Oh. Should I pluck it off for you?"

"...No. Keep it." she replied.

After a few hours of watering the plants, the two are currently cutting the hedges, ridding any outliers to keep the grass sculptures perfection. Wanting to make some small talk, Friedrich asked Sofia a question.

"Say Sofia, do you happen to be interested in art?"

"Hmm... Art?" she asked.

"Yes. I just... wanted to know."

"Oh... Um... I am not so sure..." she replied.

"Oh, do you have something else planned or do not like art...?" Friedrich asked.

"It's just... it reminds me of something." she replies.

"I see. Never mind." There was a bit of silence where the two continued to cut out the imperfections. It was when Sofia talked.

"Can you maybe..." she struggled to speak.

"What is it?"

"If you can that is, paint a picture of myself in the garden?" Sofia requested. Friedrich smiled and replied.

"Sure." he said.

...

A large leaf pile stood in front of both Sofia and Friedrich. It was all the leaves that they raked from the garden grounds. Casting a spell, they set fire to the pile, finishing their tasks.

"I did not expect that I had such an... interest in gardening," he said.

"Is that so? Would you rather come again another day? I am sure everyone would be enthusiastic about it."

"That would be great. I will think about it."

"Exquisite!" she replied. There was an awkward silence from then onwards. The two didn't seem to have an idea of continuing the conversation.

"We should really be at our dorms before sunset" Sofia said.

"Yes. Of course." Friedrich replied. The two start to place things back in their proper place. It was then when Friedrich seize an opportunity to ask a question.

"By the way, when can I come see your paintings?"

"Is the 14th okay?" he asked.

"Indeed it is." Sofia replied with a smile. After walking near the dorms, the two decide to separate from there.

"Farewell Friedrich, we shall meet again." Sofia replied.

"Of course. But before you go..." Friedrich reached for her shoulder and grabbed a small leaf from the hedge and showed it off to Sofia.

"This must have gotten on your shoulder when we trimmed them. I am ashamed I didn't notice."

"No matter Prince Friedrich." she replied. With that the two went over to their rooms with a genuine smile on both their faces.