Friday 20 January 2006, Luna Nova
"I got permission to do one more gig, as long as I didn't ask for any profit from it, I would have to do a gigwithout earning anything, as I had done at the end of the previous year, which I was already happy about as Icould start the year with peace of mind, I was hoping to get noticed more, so that I would be recognised andbe able to start my gigging career, as it says in the book that I performed a few times at Glastonbury, before Ireally started to get noticed by a manager, and I was already about to launch another gig with the help ofCroix and also Chum, who publicised it well and was even going to make sure that there was food to handout, as he had set up a stall near where the gig was going to take place."
Another lesson has come to an end, I already feel much better than I did last week, I've listened more to Croix, I've paid attention in class, I've also made a point of not blowing up the room while I'm making potions, I'm hoping that I'll become a better witch as a result, now I just have to start another presentation of mine, the first of this year 2006, I'm very anxious to attract attention.
I leave the room, but before I do I end up being approached by Finnelan, I don't know why, I haven't done anything, it's a bit strange that she should turn up out of the blue, what does she want with me, I'm not doing anything wrong here
"You stay, Miss Du Nord, I need to talk to you about something" she says and I swallow my saliva.
I'm waiting for everyone to leave, the girls even looked at me, it seemed like I'd committed the worst crime of all, but I didn't do anything, I just had the idea of performing on stage again, she has to understand that what I do isn't wrong, that I'm not committing any crime of magic.
Soon everyone left and I was left with Professor Finnelan, I took a deep breath as I imagined the conversation was going to be quite long, she brought a chair in front of her desk and asked me to sit down.
"Very well Miss Du Nord, I've heard what you intend to do today and I ask you to cancel your presentation, I won't allow you to continue to tarnish the reputation of witches like this" Ah the same old speech, I'm getting tired of it.
"You can sit and wait, I've got permission from Principal Holbrook to perform, my audience is waiting and I won't miss it" I reply and she's already looking at me differently, with anger mixed with disgust.
"Holbrook is giving in more every day to this culture of the new generation of witches, allowing more of these sacrileges, she will see the consequences of this when a mundane wants to set foot in this renowned academy of witchcraft and we have to accept because of fear of bankruptcy, ahhh how can it come to this, but listen here Miss Du Nord, what you are doing is wrong" I don't think so and neither does anyone else, only you older witches.
"And why would that be wrong?" I'll question it.
"Because this tarnishes the purity and reputation of witches, the consequences of such sacrilege are worse in the long run, witches will become more liberal and without a strong conservative force, which will change everything in magic and for the worse, that will kill magic, if you want to continue in this thing continue, You'll see the consequences with your own eyes, I just guarantee that one day they'll show it to you and it won't be me asking you like a witch from Luna Nova, it'll be bigger and more powerful witches who'll boycott your performances" she said, thinking she was scaring me like that.
"Well, let them try, if they're doing this it's because they're afraid of what's growing, and the truth is that it's time for magic to have a revolution" I get up from her desk and she stares at me angrily.
I walk to the door confidently, I even take a deep breath, it was a bit heavy, she really didn't take it easy on me, but I'm not going to let it get me down, I'm going to go to my room, get my things and today I'm not going to make any mistakes in the presentation, I'm sure that one day I'll be noticed by some businessman and I'll be able to start all this once and for all, or they'll film me and I can become famous through it.
[...]
I'm in the square, I can see that there's some movement, even on this cloudy day, a bit cold, at least it's not snowing, so it's not so bad, well now it's time to try to shine, I'm getting my costume ready, looking in the mirror, changing in an improvised place with some tents, I even feel a bit excited, having everything ready for it I take a deep breath.
I think I'm really ready now, make-up and costume on, with the replica of Claiomh Solais I'm sure I'll attract enough attention, today I've already helped a lot by enchanting some children with magic and they're there
waiting for me, I'll be the one to put more hope in magic in their minds, I'll be the one to give them these new looks.
"Very well Chariot, we'll be going in shortly, everything is ready on stage" said Croix.
"Thanks Croix, I'm a bit nervous, but I'll try my best" I say taking a deep breath, but I know I'll be able to start putting on a great show.
"You don't have to, just let go Chariot, I'm sure you'll be a blast on stage, I trust you, just breathe easy, I'm with you on this" she said with her hand on my shoulder, which eased the tension I was feeling, even if only a little.
I take a deep breath and she signals me to come in, and she starts to play the song, which begins with effects on the stage, with lights and stars circulating, what we can do with our conditions and yet Croix still makes a point of bringing enormous life to the stage, it really is impressive.
I appear with my broom while some smoke is coming out of the ground just as I expected, and with it came sparkles, just as the music dropped and a spotlight came right in the middle of my face with me waving to the audience.
"Welcome to the marvellous world of magic! Your magic is believing in yourself!" I say, waving my hat, which has started to sparkle.
I lifted the replica of Claiomh Solais and began to make a great shower of magic that fell from the sky with lights of various colours, which drew the attention of the people looking at it impressed, I again held on with both hands with the sceptre in my hands and created some light effects, which a light appeared, covering my whole body, a little yellowish, with the staff becoming a little stronger and my hair reddish and with that I created an effect that looked like water all over the stage.
On it I began to dance like a ballerina, gesturing, creating the things that gradually appeared, some holographic trees, a fountain and with that I continued to take steps, demonstrating a recreation of what the fountain of Polaris is, with some ruins and the people watching my dance the most was evident.
I finish the dance steps, raise my staff again and with that I make some bears appear, they join the fountain and create life and I make them accompany me in the broom flight that I make standing on it, getting very close to the public, with some spotlights following me.
"Come with me and be enchanted by the magic, this marvellous world that enchants so much" I say as I pass my hand very closely with the audience and the holographic bears accompany me, I think the fountain has really given this whole show an extra boost.
I go round and round the stage, which was the moment to start antagonising, with smoke and darkness appearing with the music even going into a more intense mode, apparently it's time to fight evil, but I keep getting distracted, which has the effect of creating a dragon, it was just as I expected, it goes flying around the stage, starting to throw fire and destroy the environment of the fountain and with that I get ready for the next part of the presentation.
"Time to defeat evil with magic, put your faith in me and I'll show this dragon the power of magic with my Shiny Rod! It will give me the power to fight evil!" I say, striking a pose while holding my staff and staring at the creature.
I imitated a bit of a Sailor Moon on this one, but as soon as it gets more interesting, it's time to show the dragon the power of the Shiny Rod, I'm already firing a bolt of magic towards the creature that stops attacking the place when it's hit, with that it's even coming towards me with the spotlights focusing on us, while the bears following me were coming back and I'm already teasing it.
He's coming at me, I'm doing some manoeuvres and I even throw myself on the broom using it as a trapeze, which I wait for him to get close to and dodge with the broom and the dragon passes very close to the audience who are impressed, I stand on the broom, shoot another ray of magic and fly to the stage where the dragon was, always demonstrating that he was in sync with the dance, I get very close, I go up and the creature follows me, I get very high up, I dodge again and I throw myself towards the stage, as if I were in a circus, some brooms appear and I lean on them and the dragon soon realises that it has been tricked, and flies down.
"It's time to defeat the evil dragon and bring good to magic, let's all join forces together and defeat this evil!" I hold the sceptre tighter.
The two bears there in the form of a hologram created by Croix are also appearing and giving me their paws, which is making the staff glow more strongly in its little balls, I'm really making a huge demonstration of the power of the Shiny Rod here, imagine when I get the real thing, what a change it's going to be, I'm really looking forward to this moment.
The hideous creature comes very close, I hold my sceptre with both hands and with the power of its glow I shoot a wave of magic towards the creature that hits the dragon right in the face and it ends up glowing with the power I've shot.
It comes very close to me and the Chariot, which causes a whole effect of lights and shattering in the air, resulting in several sparks and lights falling across the stage and with that I start to dance again, as little by little something is restored, the stage was getting the part of the fountain restored with my dance and my magic.
"Magic is what can bring creation, peace, the solution to everything, it's what brings life, believe in magic and the world can be a better place" I say, making things restore themselves throughout the scene and finally I take what looks like a seed in my hands.
This seed grows in my hands, becoming a little plant, which then changes, becoming something much bigger and more different, until it becomes a flower that I make levitate through the air and with that its petals come out and spread all over the place, creating a rain that flies all over the stage and I wave to the whole audience, bringing that part of the first performance of the year to an end.
"This is the marvellous world of magic! Keep believing in magic and this marvellous world will continue to exist!" I said, waving to everyone and even doing a few ballet steps until the curtain came to cover me and I could rest.
I didn't miss a step today, I did well in today's performance, not bad Chariot, I'm exhausted now, I think I must have impressed at least a little, it was fun while it lasted, I'm panting, I did what I had to do.
Then I go to the dressing room and there I can hear some clapping, I think I did well, phew, I really love doing these performances, but the anxiety rises in my body, I feel like I could make a mistake at any moment, luckily I'm a different person when I step on stage, anyway it's time to go and get ready to leave.
I change back into my uniform and even feel a little relieved, the Shiny Chariot outfit is marvellous, but not when it's the middle of winter, it leaves my belly, shoulders and legs showing, as well as the neckline, if I get the flu in this I swear I don't know how I'll react, then I hear Croix coming, I was just finishing putting on my coat and she smiles at me.
"You were marvellous today Chariot, the audience loved it, I was able to film everything and I'm going to edit it, we can create a website, just for you, with the videos of your performances, that way they'll be able to watch them more often, I have the video of the last one and it's well edited, I'm going to do this one later, we can launch it even today, maybe that way everyone will spread the word more" Ohhhh, that would be interesting really, how come I didn't think of that before.
"Is the internet going to attract that much attention? I don't know if it's going to be that big, I barely use the internet Croix" I ask her, scratching the back of my head.
"I'm sure you will, now that I need to show you that you need the internet to further your career, seriously Chariot you don't even have an email or anything like that" And I just keep shaking my head in denial.
"I haven't used the internet anywhere in my life just to look at pictures, apart from that I haven't used it properly, I have no idea how to do it" I say a little confused.
"Now I'm going to make a point of teaching you, we're going to The Last Wednesday Society, we're going to create your e-mail and your website, I'll show you how it's done, I've got my laptop in hand" Ahhh I just want to see, this could be marvellous.
And we're already getting ready to dismantle the stage, from what I can see people have already spread out in their seats, a sign that they saw the performance and it was a good one, now I really can't wait to see what it's going to be like from now on, I did my best on stage.
I hope some manager has noticed me, I want to see this internet thing too, I'm sure Croix will help me a lot with that, I can't wait to get my website, to do this email thing, just imagining it makes my head spin.
[...]
It's all sorted, now we've arrived at the Last Wednesday Society, with Chum's help we've managed to get everything sorted in time, now we're here to rest and I want to see this internet thing, I can see that they've
even connected a cable to Croix's laptop, which she opens and starts showing us things, while Chum goes to the kitchen to make us something to eat.
I see the computer screen, making those noises, I really get confused with so much screen and so much stuff, I see that there's even a nice wallpaper in the background, Croix has left an image of Evangelion in the background, she likes that kind of thing
"Ignore the Evangelion wallpaper, let's concentrate on creating your email and your future website, I'm just waiting for this thing to switch on, because a computer is a bit of a pain, you have to start everything, so it doesn't slow down" she said and I just looked at the extra stuff there, it also has some interesting games, I didn't realise this thing could also be played.
"I've never seen this Evangelion thing, my mums watched it, they said it wasn't something for kids my age to watch, I used to watch Kiki's delivery service a lot and I loved it, I'd always pick up the broom trying to imitate her" I say looking at my friend's laptop.
"We could watch it sometime tomorrow, I've got some DVDs in storage, we could watch the whole of Evangelion, as well as some others that I ended up watching when I was older with my mum, she's the one who knows more about these things" I'd love to, to get to know more of what Croix likes.
"These Japanese cartoons look really cool, I used to watch Dragon Ball Z too, it was all in Japanese, but it had subtitles, which of these cartoons do you like the most, I can already see that Evangelion is one of them, it looks cool with the giant robot and stuff" I think that's how I get to know it better.
"Evangelion is my favourite, but I also really like Cowboy Bebop, Akira, Hellsing, Serial Experiments Lain I'm also watching One Piece, but my favourite thing is manga, it seems like I'm always reading books, but sometimes I hide some manga underneath, I really like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, believe it or not I'm fluent in Japanese because I read so many manga, the things I like are always in Japanese, so I took a Japanese course when I was about 9, then I always read manga to become more fluent" Woah that's impressive now I'm curious.
"Can you please show me? I'm very curious" she even blushes.
"I'll admit that I've never done this for someone before, I'm even embarrassed to speak Japanese, but come on" I get excited.
She starts talking and it all comes out in a way that I don't understand at all, it's good that she can just suddenly throw a lot of words at me and I still think she can speak Japanese, I'm really impressed, then she shows that she wasn't pretending when she picks up a notepad and starts writing things in Japanese, these strange symbols, I'm really confused.
Wow, I'm really impressed with Croix every day, I wish I could be like her, I can only speak English and French, my range of what I speak is very short, which sucks, but Croix speaks perfectly and then sends me a text.
"What's written there?" I ask her, confused.
"I mean, Chariot Du Nord, you're very beautiful, you're special, you're going to become a great witch" I hope that's what it is, I'm delighted.
"Do you know any other languages apart from Japanese?" I ask her and she nods.
"I'm fluent in English, my native Italian, Japanese, German, French and the Luna language, I've focused a lot on learning more languages with my adoptive mum, she's the most polyglot, she knows several languages and she's a programmer like that, so now we can start" Ohh I was forgetting that bit.
I'm getting my hands ready to start writing, I'm even looking at the computer and there goes Croix opening something, it looks like it's the internet, when she opens it she goes to another site and there's some information there, to fill in what she offers me to put everything in, it must be to create that e-mail I assume.
"This is to create your e-mail, put in some basic information and then make everything as clear as possible" I'll nod my head and get started.
I'm using the mouse and pointing to where you have to type, I'm putting things in, trying to find each of the keys, to type everything as requested, I really want to show how much I can do here, it's easy, even if typing is a bit confusing, it reminds me a lot of when I used to ring the cash register, it was very similar, oh memories of Nice, it's been four years since I did that, look how I am now.
And here's everything, I think I'll leaveShinyChariotBelievingHeart , so everyone will know how to get in touch and it's good that it's all done so well, it seems to have opened up a screen now, as if there were lots of things.
"Croix, I've finished here, I've got everything I need, I've even written it down on a little pad so I don't forget, now what do I do?" I ask her, showing her the screen.
"Perfect, your e-mail has already been sent, now you can start doing almost everything on the internet, now I'm going to do some things here to get a domain for you, what do you think of is a good name for a website" I nod.
"Of course, I'd love to, can you make it all pretty for me?" I ask her.
"Sure girl, leave it to me, I'll do this more when I have the domain in hand, you can let me pay for it, I'll get a package for about 5 years with this domain, then we'll do more things together on the site, you can do everything, make personalised icons, even cursors, I want to make it look like you, I'm just catching up with my mum, she's got the money and everything, and she can help me pay for it, since she's of age, it might take a while, but soon the domain will be yours" I'm really excited, I don't know anything about these things and Croix helps me a lot.
I just watch her being all geeky, holding her computer while also talking on her mobile phone, on the V3 she has, it's all grey, while mine is red, until I decide to take mine and take a picture of Croix in distraction, how cute, her all in concentration.
Chum arrives with a couple of mugs of hot chocolate, also with fondue, I've missed this for a while, this is the cheese one, I've taught them how to make these things and they just enjoy them, it's perfect in winter with this cold.
"Hey Chariot, remember that" he said and I nodded.
"Of course, I'm the one who taught you, and it's not even from France, but it's quite common when I lived in Annecy, as it's closer to Switzerland, there's a lot of Swiss there and some restaurants with Swiss food, I just took the opportunity to learn more things, so don't put a French flag on the cheese, it's not from France" I say, taking the flag away and eating a little.
"Ohhh that's good, Aunt Bernadette and Aunt Laura are the ones who like it a lot" I remember it well, we used to get together every winter, I'd forgotten, it's been so many years, it's good to eat, take a roll with a fork and put cheese on it.
"Wow, you got that right Chum, not bad" I say as I eat.
"Look, I've already managed to buy the domain, that's a good step forward, we'll start setting up the website soon, but don't take your mind off the important things Chariot, tomorrow we'll still be studying, now we have to take care of setting up your social networks, so you can keep in touch with people and also help publicise your work more" she knows everything, it's impressive.
"Wow Croix, you help me a lot, I really wouldn't know that" I say to her.
"It's good that we're building together for your future career, so you can change the world, it's not just about being on stage presenting in the street, of course one day a businessman might notice you, but girl, we're in 2006, we're not in 1976, things are very different, we have the internet and it's only going to grow more and more around the world, which also makes it more difficult for those who go the traditional way, but we have to adapt to new times, we're going to create a Facebook page, on My Space, on Orkut, a YouTube channel and we have to do it in a way that attracts attention, short videos with making offs, with relaxed moments, so that the public can sell the idea of Shiny Chariot being a star who is like us, everything well calculated, trust me I already know how to expand your horizons, in a short time you'll attract the attention of some businessman" This is all so complex, but at the same time I imagine it will help, thank goodness I have Croix here to help me.
I'm eating the fondue, watching in amazement as she eats and works on her computer, she looks like a real library geek, it's impressive, I really wanted to understand this world of the internet more deeply, which luckily I think I'll be able to understand better one day.
All this help, I'm sure it'll make me more famous, I'm sure, are people really that connected? I find it quite bizarre, but anyway, I can't wait to see my success appear.
[...]
She shows me the page of everything she's created, my profile on various social networks, giving me a little notebook with the password to access them, which is going to be very good, I'm going to write everything down, but the password space she left blank I didn't understand, but that's okay, I think it must be something she wants me to do.
"Now Chariot, change the password for everything, I've set the BelievingHeart90 password as the default, you create the password for everything yourself, after all, social networks are yours and personal, no one but you should have access to them, if someone asks for the password and e-mail, don't give it to them, the access is yours alone, understand? Well, anyway, I've also created a page just for you on some of these, which has access to my profile as a moderator, so I can post content related to your presentations, spread the word more, maybe even next year if we get it right we'll do a presentation in the summer of 2007 in Tokyo" that would be a dream come true.
"Croix, you're marvellous, really, a person like you should exist more often, I'm really happy to have you as a friend, you always help me, even though I'm such a dunce" I say, rubbing the back of my neck.
"You're not dumb Chariot, I'm grateful to meet someone who brightens my day, but stop calling yourself dumb, you're just naive and unaware of the things in the world, not knowing is different from not having intelligence after all I've seen that you're intelligent in things you know, you can play the guitar very well, you can dance like a ballerina, embody a theatre character and other things, really I'm just a nerd, I wouldn't be able to achieve the things you can and your radiant way, people are charmed by you Chariot, trust me you have your charms" I even blush at these words, you really do charm me.
"Look, the two of you are a perfect duo, together you can go far, Croix has become more radiant with Chariot's presence and with Croix's intelligence and her extensive knowledge, this adds to Chariot's growth in life, together you can make the revolution of the witches, I'm with you on this, you can be sure" Even Chum, who would have thought that we are achieving more friendships and everything that Woodward taught us is becoming a reality.
I've just finished putting in the passwords and I've put everything on a little pad, with what I need to get in, soon I'll be able to become more famous on the internet, I've already seen that I have at least one friend who is Croix, now that I've done everything I'll hand the laptop over to my friend with the glasses, I've done everything I need to.
She went on to fiddle with the mouse and I didn't understand much, but that's okay, I think this must be to help me, I'm already getting excited about what's to come
"I log out of your social networks on my laptop, we're going to buy yours tomorrow, do you have a few quid spare? It will be used to buy the new laptop, you'll need it to post your stuff on the internet, it's good that you're very active, now let's go to Luna Nova, I'll set up your website and soon it will be flooded with emails and messages from businessmen wanting to get your attention, by the way this was a request from your mums, they want you to spread on the internet, so that maybe you can create a fame" I didn't know they would have a finger in it, well I'm happy now, now I have access to the things I can do on the internet.
I can't wait to buy my laptop, we're leaving The Last Wednesday Society, we're walking back to Luna Nova, a very cold night in the city, but what really warmed it up was Croix's help, I think I like her a lot, for me I think that if she was ever my girlfriend I wouldn't think it was a bad thing, but I don't know if I like her like that, or if I do, I always look strange and I feel better around her.
"And this was the start of everything in my internet career, thanks to Croix I created my first social networksand it was a huge help, which is very close to one of the eras of my career where I really took off, you mayhave seen it in the book, when a certain manager came along and there my professional career began, butthat still took a while and a few gigs in the same square as Glastonbury."
See you, career witches...