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