Chapter 6 – I Want a Car

Three Days, a Goddess, and an Instructor Who Doesn't Smile

The streets of Élidora murmur.

To the left, a monstrous traffic jam, horns weaving a concerto of impatience. To the right, a packed bus spills a tide of students onto the sidewalk.

In the center, Dana Noctielle walks.

Hands in her pockets, gaze tilted, steps steady she sighs.

— "I can cross a continent in half a second… but I wait like everyone else for a tram."

She looks up.

In front of her: La Confiance Driving School. Pale blue logo, slightly crooked letters, and a little sign: Registrations open.

She enters.

Inside, a receptionist with a tired smile the kind of smile from someone who's seen too many stressed teens and too few passes  looks up.

"Hello, are you here for the theory or driving lessons?"

"Both. I want to learn from A to Z. no shortcuts."

The woman blinks, a bit surprised.

"You’re motivated."

Dana calmly corrects her.

"No, I’m stubborn."

Day 2 – Road Theory

Testing room.

Ten students, response boxes, a sluggish heat glued to the walls, flickering lights that blink too softly.

Dana is focused.

But the rules are slow, methodical, and filled with logical traps.

"Why is the right answer never the simplest one?"

A triangular sign, a road marking, a green light trap next to a crosswalk.

She sighs.

"I’ve fought interdimensional monsters… and here I am, hesitating between C and D."

Coffee break. Another student approaches.

"How’s it going? I had 27 mistakes on my last mock test."

Dana offers a small box.

"I’m learning at my pace. And I brought candy. Want a lucky caramel?"

He takes it. They laugh a little. The atmosphere relaxes.

At the end of the day, she finishes with 34 out of 40.

Not perfect… but human enough to pass.

Day 3 – Supervised Driving

In the parking lot, an old white car waits for her. Faded logo on the door, and inside, the scent of worn-out clutch.

At the wheel, Madame Lora, calm, composed… but with quickly frowning eyebrows.

"Hello Dana, relax and start by showing me the dashboard."

Dana sits down.

Her hands clenched on the wheel, eyes on the pedals, she mutters to herself:

"I could fuse with the engine… but I promised to be normal."

First attempt: she stalls.
Second attempt: she stalls again.

"No panic, let's restart."

She sweats.

Blinkers, stop sign, right-of-way rule (she hates right-of-way from the right).

At one point, she presses the pedal too hard.

"Sorry, my foot’s a bit twitchy."

Madame Lora frowns.

Dana smiles, ironic:

"I’m allergic to slowness."

But by the end of the lesson…

"Good. You listen, you're careful, and your mirrors… are perfect."

In her head, Dana screams:

"Yes."

Day 4 – The Driving Test

D-day.

She waits, standing under light rain, hands crossed, a knot in her stomach.

Then the official examiner arrives.

Monsieur Rigal.

Gray suit, piercing eyes, not a smile.

"Dana Noctielle? Show me if you deserve to drive."

Dana winces internally.

"Ouch."

The drive is tense.

A narrow construction zone between cones, a highway merge with a truck too close, a surprise emergency brake.

Monsieur Rigal barely speaks. Just nods, light grunts.

Dana talks to herself:

"I’m a goddess, I’m speed incarnate… but right now, I’m just a student trying not to stall at the red light."

The examiner takes notes. Long silence.

Then:

"Adequate. Lack of confidence at the start, but good overall control."

She stares at him.

"...So I passed?"

He nods.

"License granted."

Dana walks out, hand over heart.

"I thought he’d never give it to me."

She returns home drops her bag, sits down, and opens a little box Inside her very first car keychain a tiny red flying car, with her name engraved underneath she gently places it on the table and whispers, smiling:

"Speed… can also go through traffic jams."

End of Chapter 6 – I Want a Car