Friday 26 February 2010, Adelaide, Australia
"Now I would have to get used to a new place for good, I spent a few days crying in my room, doing nothingbut sleeping, spending the day crying, occasionally eating, sometimes going out to smoke and everythingelse, just thinking that I had left everything behind without leaving any news or trace was what shocked me,So I chose to stay in the shadows still, being in this situation, but I would have to take some action, tocontinue life and soon I started to change things since I would also have to take on a new identity from thatday on, I would no longer be Chariot Du Nord."
I don't think crying here is going to defeat Daryl and bring my Daniella into my arms, I need to get up, I'm already at rock bottom and yet there's a hand holding me up so I don't fall, I know Lucy Watson is going to help me with this, I'm already helping her, come on, I have to talk to her about the magic training to change my hair colour, so I can get some practice with a new identity, I even look at some glasses and think about wearing them together, as if I were Clark Kent.
I leave the room and go into the lounge, in fact one thing I've got used to here over the days is the heat, I never thought Adelaide would be as hot as I thought, well anyway come on I've got to do something and not just lie around crying.
"Oh Chariot, you've left the room, do you want something to eat? Have you come to get something?" Lucy asks and I nod.
"I want you to teach me, teach me how to change my hair colour, I'm not going to sit here locked in my room, I have to start doing something soon, you told me that in the middle of the year I can start studying astrology at a university nearby that specialises in it, so I'm going to do it with my new identity" I say more motivated.
"Well, if you want to leave the house, just wear the new disguise, because this way they'll recognise you and you can't be discovered the way you are now, so come with me, I'll show you the spell" I left the room, she walked with me to the backyard, it's a nice day, it's still summer here, with a bit of sunshine.
Lucy started to change the colour of her hair, she concentrated her magic and went blonde, then she went red, her hair alternated colours, purple, red, blue, white, until she went back to her natural brown hair, I'm impressed, it seems to be just a question of concentrating the magic apparently, but I still don't know if that's exactly what it is, in any case it seems easy.
"It's not very difficult, you get the hang of it in a day or so, it consists of concentrating the magic on the hair and using it to change the colour, at first it won't be that great, just leaving it in the negative colour without changing much but..." I tried concentrating a little to start with and my hair felt like it was burning all over and then it stopped, did I use too much magic and go bald? That's my fear.
"Did it work? I didn't go bald? Please Lucy, tell me if I did it" I'm very tense.
"You've learned very quickly really, that's how it is, surprisingly all the hairs on your head have changed colour to the negative of your red, look at that" she shows me in the mirror.
My hair is blue, it contrasts with my red eyes, I look a bit different, but I still have a few fringes and my hair is longer, but I'm sure that over time it will change, I'll have to leave the fringe aside to look more different, but this way I look very different from Shiny Chariot, then I put on the glasses I left in my pocket and put them on my face, which I look at Lucy and she is very surprised.
"Chariot, you're unrecognisable like this, almost as if you were someone else" that's good.
"I don't feel any magic being spent, that's impressive, what do I do next? In case I want to go back to normal?" I ask her.
"So that's the hard part, for the first few days the transformation doesn't reverse by your will yet, you'll only go back to normal when you go to sleep, with me it took a little over two weeks, to get used to it and have total control over it" I'm shocked, oh by the nine witches, my red hair is so beautiful.
"What? Am I going to have to change my hair for the rest of the day? Am I going to turn blue like this?" She nodded.
"This is only for the first few days, then things will get better, for now you're different, but we still have a lot to practise, as you can still give too much away about your identity, your way of speaking, your accent, these
are obvious things that everyone will realise you're French, we'll have to get you used to a different way of speaking, and you'll also have to find another name, okay" said Mrs Watson, but at least I can look new.
We went back inside, Madeleine apparently hasn't arrived yet, if I'm not mistaken she works until the evening, while Lucy stays here at home, she said she's going to stay here at home without working to prepare me to be the Astrology teacher, which I'll get to in the living room and she'll show me some books, I didn't think I'd have to study now.
"Very well, it's not enough just to stay here and change your appearance and get used to a new accent, we have to study astrology and I'm telling you, if you want to get into Luna Nova, the ceiling to get in there is much higher than anywhere else" said Lucy as she showed the books and soon she was showing an astrological chart with the constellations.
I look at Ursa Major, I remember a name that stuck in my head, it was the name of my possible drawing account that I was going to sell online, that could be good, while Mrs Watson kept bringing me more and more books, I guess I'm going to have to study a lot if I want to become a teacher in Luna Nova.
"Ursula Callistis" I say, and Lucy herself finds the name strange.
"What does that mean?" She asks.
"That's the name I'm going to have from now on, I'm going to be Ursula Callistis" she smiled.
"Ursula is an excellent name even, you made a reference to the constellation Ursa Major, I liked your idea, well then I'll try to get used to calling you that, in a few days we'll see how things unfold Ursula, you'll be known like that from today" Unfortunately I'll have to say goodbye to Chariot Du Nord.
"Yes, I like my new name, from now on Chariot Du Nord is dead, and Ursula Callistis, a blue-haired, bespectacled witch, will take her place" I say confidently.
"Are you really going to have blue hair? Don't you want to try another shade, like a brown or a mauve like your mum's, even a purple, that would be interesting" I shake my head in denial.
"I want to stay this blue, it will be the negative of what Chariot once was, this blue hair will be marked as the new person I'm going to be, what used to be an outgoing girl who smiled at the world, now it's me, the result of everything you've done to me to put me down, the introverted woman who is of few words and gives closed smiles, even this I'm trying to change to make a different impression so that no one discovers me until then" Lucy went on to rub my hair.
"That was very poetic girl, I liked the concept behind the identicality, so come on, the studies can't be rushed, it's going to be a long period, we also have to work on your accent, so you'll be closer to an Englishwoman than a Frenchwoman, as well as your way of behaving" I'll try whatever it takes not to look like who I used to be.
I take a deep breath, well now it's the beginning of a new era, this new identity of mine is going to be who I am from now on, it's the end of an era where I was just Chariot Du Nord, a silly little girl, my adult life as Ursula starts now, I'm glad there are people like Lucy who have been helping me even in these difficulties I can still turn my life around, I'm going to try my best to make things better, but goodbye Daniella, goodbye Mum, goodbye everyone, I can't go back to you, unfortunately, I'm already accepting that.
[...]
Monday 12 April 2010, Adelaide, Australia
"Changing the accent was impossible for Lucy, I'm very used to the way I speak, she even managed tochange a few ways of pronouncing it, but I was still very evidently a Francesa, in any case the other thingsworked out, I perfected the technique of changing my hair colour, I did it with my own will, just as Lucy saidwith time you get used to it and it becomes very easy to stay that way, another thing she was doing washelping me with my studies, I was learning a lot in depth and everything was getting ready for the start of mystudies at university, which I knew could be complicated, but that Lucy would make it easy enough for me tobe a proper student, as well as preparing something else, which was an identity with my new name, whichactually worked, I got the identity as a French immigrant in Australia as Ursula Callistis and I even took thephoto, it would be enough to put on my CV."
Yesterday everything was ready, now I'm officially Ursula Callistis, even the two of them have got used to calling me that, I leave the room, look in the mirror, turn my hair blue, and stare at myself, wow even without my glasses you can tell I look different, maybe a little tired, it's been almost two months since that happened, every night I keep dreaming about them, thinking about how they must be with me gone.
I leave my room, go downstairs and see Lucy in the living room. I take a deep breath, after all, today I'm also going to get my driving licence, but before that she wants to take me for a test, where I'll see if the ID really works.
"Come on Chariot, this is your first time out of the house, you have to get used to Adelaide, so I'll show you where everything is, in our test you'll buy me a crate of beer and a packet of cigarettes for me and you can get one for yourself, for the nine witches, please do, you're running out of cigarette packets here very quickly" I nod.
We left the house and I got into her car, it's all on the other side, I was too used to Ireland that the steering wheel was on the left side of the car, that I even forgot that people drive on the right side of the steering wheel, well now it's time to see how this will unfold, I'm getting my first glimpse of the streets so far since yesterday I've barely seen properly, she went to a convenience store which I was preparing to get out of the car.
"Well, you're not used to it yet, are you?" I get confused.
"What's that?" I ask her.
"Driving on the opposite side, you tried to get in on the driver's side yesterday too, there's something else you need to get used to, you've lived in Ireland and France for many years, you've got used to the other side, but anyway, we've arrived, we're going to buy things, then I want you to take us home, if it's OK we'll go from home to the traffic office and there you'll get your driving licence" I nod.
I get out of the car, I get out of the car with the money Lucy gave me, it was 50 Dollars, I go inside the convenience store, until then everything was normal, until it was quiet, I open the fridge, I take a crate of beer, Heineken, I go to the counter and there I give it to the cashier and I don't forget the packet of cigarettes.
"Give me two packets of Lucky Strike" she left the packets on the counter too.
"ID please" I take my ID out of my pocket and she checks everything nicely.
She gave me my ID back and went through everything at the till, I gave her the 50 and she gave me the change, which came to 37 dollars in change, and a few cents, which I took and left the shop, and well, the ID worked, I walked back to the car, left the crate of beer on the back seat and the packet of cigarettes, I gave one to Lucy and the other I kept in my hand, which I lit inside her car, which already smelt of cigarettes, giving me a tremendous relief.
"Phew... It all worked out, it seems the identity has stuck as Ursula Callistis" I say with relief.
"Great, so you'll be able to study in August when school starts" I'm confused.
"August? But it's still summer, how are we going to study during the summer holidays?" She actually laughed.
"You're a silly girl, aren't you? The year here in Australia is very different, in your case you're going to start a bit later, it was supposed to start in February, but since you came so late the year will start after the winter holidays here, which only last for the month of July, the year ends in November or December and then we have the summer holidays in Australia, well you'll get used to it" I thought I'd only go back to school in September, but things really change around here.
"So it's August, I thought it would only be September anyway, how long will it take me?" I ask her.
"By the middle of 2015 you'll graduate, then you just have to offer yourself for Luna Nova, it'll be a slow process Ursula, but it'll be worth it, get used to it because you'll live here for five years until you go back to Europe" Five years? I'm feeling pretty hopeless.
It's going to be a long five years, away from everyone I love, everyone is going to be very worried about me, Daniella is going to think that I abandoned her and made that mistake, even though I'm already at my worst, how can I react, things are way out of my hands, Well, it'll be five years in the end, I don't have much to say
about it, just wait for the time to pass, by then Diana will be 13 years old, most likely Daniella will also be thinking about someone else, but that's life, I made mistakes and I deserved to be here.
[...]
Monday 26 July 2010, Adelaide, Australia
I arrive at the university that Lucy told me about, well it's time to sign up to study there and start my astrology studies, Gwendolyn Benson master academy, I enter through the gates, then go to reception, which I've already taken out a huge amount of money having to travel to Sydney, it was 100 thousand dollars for that, which will be used in large part to pay for the course here.
"What can I do for you?" asks the receptionist.
"I'd like to speak to the dean of the university" I tell her.
"Oh, you'd like to become a teacher, come with us, our dean will talk to you and discuss prices, we'll call you right away" said the receptionist.
She left me in a room and I waited, well now there's no going back, I'll only leave here as a graduate, I've done everything I need to do, I have no option but to carry on, to think that I've abandoned everything, and it's been four months now, so far I'm still thinking a lot about everything that's happened, I'm deeper into cigarettes than anything, before I only smoked one or two cigarettes a day, now a packet is enough for me. The dean has arrived and I'm a little relieved, well it's time to put the plan into action, I've already managed to get the money, now I just have to start doing my best, I really hope the identity works, after all I really need to study here.
"Hello, would you like to be a new student here? It's always a surprise and everyone is very welcome, we haven't seen a new face in a long time, I'm Dean Taylor, welcome to Gwendolyn Benson University in Adelaide, it's been a while since we've seen witches interested in studying here, so the place is a bit small, it doesn't have the same prestige as Luna Nova, but tell me what you're interested in teaching?" I take a deep breath and start straight away.
"I intend to teach Astrology in Luna Nova, that's my goal" I tell her.
"Oh Luna Nova, well your accent already shows me that you're an immigrant here, why aren't you studying in France? Or even England? It's much closer to Luna Nova, but well, I can imagine that you have your difficulties, so before we make a deal I'll show you how our campus works" I nod my head in agreement
She noticed my accent, it's really strong, how can I control it, I don't know, but anyway, she gets up and so do I, with my suitcase in hand, I follow the dean, she shows us around the campus, passing by the canteen where there's plenty of places to eat, very spacious, then we go up the stairs and wow, there are really spacious rooms here, but with different chairs, and she shows us the astrology room and it was beautiful, wow, not bad at all.
"This is where the magic happens, we're not of Luna Nova standard, but this is the astrology room, where you'll be able to start your period, so far we've had no more than 20 students enrolled, thanks to you we'll be able to start studying, there's very little interest in magic in these parts" I imagine.
She then walked around the university, showing me the rooms and well I won't need a room as I technically have my own house, so it'll be easier to get a place to stay, but one thing's for sure, this is better than Luna Nova, there's electricity and space to put a lot more stuff, you can play video games here, I realise that at least here there's more freedom.
"Well, unlike Luna Nova, there's electricity here, you can enjoy your room to your heart's content and we have a bathroom where you'll share with your roommate, we don't have time restrictions or dress code, you can feel free, we don't have technology rules either, wear what you want, you're an adult woman, very different from Luna Nova, anyway, come on, I want to close the deal with you" I nod my head in agreement.
I think she's shown me everything, even the outside where there's sporting stuff, she's passed by to show me, it looks like a really fun place and everything, I have to say I have more important things on my mind right now, unfortunately, I don't have much to enjoy, the years ahead are still going to change a lot, for the nine witches.
We get to her room to negotiate, it's a much more organised room, I take a deep breath, after all I'm going to have to make an effort.
"All right, I'm going to need your documents so I can pull up your school transcripts, what's your name again?" I get cold sweats, what do you mean school transcripts?
"My name is Ursula Callistis" I hand her my document and she looks at it through her computer, already making a strange face.
"Your ID is fake, it may even show that you're really a French immigrant, but your school record is non-existent Ursula, this could get you arrested if you insist on something like this, please tell me who you are, and why you're here in Australia" I was found out so easily and well there's no way I'm going to turn my hair red again and take my French driving licence and my passport that I used to come here.
"It's a long story, I had no choice but to move to Australia, I have to remain anonymous at all costs Dean Taylor" She was astonished to see me.
"Chariot Du Nord? Is Shiny Chariot here? You've been missing for three years! That's incredible, but what are you doing here? Look, I won't tell anyone if you ask me, it's an honour to have you here, it's thanks to you that we've had a discharge here" I'm even a little less worried.
"Family matters, which I'd rather not mention, I'm here so I can get away from them and live a new life, for all that's good don't tell anyone I'm in Adelaide, just in case, I'm Ursula" I tell her.
"Well, that'll be solved if you show that..." I'll open my bag straight away.
"You can register me as Chariot, but don't tell anyone it's me" she nods.
"Woah, that's a lot, we appreciate it, so I can use a policy that is used by trans students who have not yet legally changed their name, where we leave her legal name registered, but we don't let the rest know the registration name, using a different name, so I can use the name Ursula if you prefer, you're a witch with a degree from Luna Nova, we'll certainly refer you if you keep good grades and a good relationship with the teachers, we can open the way and talk to Miranda Holbrook about your presence" How marvellous, I'm glad.
"Oh good, thank you for the opportunity, Dean Taylor" I say to her and go about turning my hair blue again.
"Well, the final price would be 35,000 dollars for the whole course, but it can be paid in monthly instalments, but for the amount of money you've shown me everything, to rent a room here would be around 100 dollars a month or until the end of the period you can pay 5,000 dollars in cash" I deny it with my head.
"I'm going to live in my house, so I already have my study books and another mentor to help me with that, but I'm grateful" says the dean.
"Just remember, if you want to join Luna Nova, you'll have to show your potential and I'll show you the right friendships and people you'll have to make" I'm confused.
"Isn't it just about getting good grades?" She laughs.
"Hahahaha, that's not how a university works, if you don't know the right people and have your contacts you'll never be able to study at a magic school at the level of Luna Nova, believe me, contacts are stronger than having an excellent grade, but for Luna Nova you have to have both, Lucy Watson was the last one around here who managed to study at Luna Nova and that was many years ago, she had the contacts and everything was fine" She's my mentor.
"I see, Lucy is my mentor for this" I say, smiling.
"Lucy Watson? Woah, then the path for you can be a lot easier, she's the one with the most knowledge, but anyway, as soon as we start studying next week I'll show you which people you should mix with, how you should behave Ursula, if you follow the right steps you'll become an exemplary student, well I'm filling everything in as I can and soon your form will be ready, I'll take advantage and get uniforms if you want to wear them, it's all your preference" She started telling me.
Well I'm relieved, I made it, but now things are going to be very different, who would have thought that I would finally get into a university, but it's still very bad that I have to have contacts, I thought it was the same in Luna Nova, just study and you graduate, But here it's much more down to earth, it seems Principal Holbrook was right that my journey as a witch didn't end, it only began, to think that I threw away my dream of becoming a Shiny Chariot for this, I ended up going back to school again.
Everything was filled in and I was given some documents to sign, all in preparation for my studies, from now on it will be five years until I become a teacher in Luna Nova, I'm sure that when I arrive everything will be very different, thinking that I'll have to force friendships with people will be annoying, but it's necessary.
All done, I leave the university and get into the car, now I've done one of the parts of the mission, in the future I'll be a teacher at Luna Nova, I just hope I don't have to reveal myself as Chariot to Headmistress Holbrook, when I get home and see Lucy waiting for me.
"So you did it?" I nod.
"It all worked out, but I was a bit put off by the fact that I have to have contact, what do you mean it's not just about getting good grades?" I ask her.
"That's right, that's how it works in universities, if you don't have any contacts you can't do well, you have to make friends with the popular circle and create a reputation, become the most liked in the university, there's a lot more to it than studying, well as you don't work that's easier to achieve, you use your money as if you were going to climb higher and higher in fame, money is something that everyone likes, well first of all you also need a new and more flashy car, my old Holden is no good for this, it won't create a good impression, let's go to the car shop, you still have some money left over, buy yourself a newer car, one that gives the impression of being younger and everyone will look at your prestige" said Mrs Watson and I was deep in thought.
"And what car would you recommend? I don't know much about it, I just know that I learnt to drive in a mini and my mum's and aunt April's cars, as well as rich people's cars, but I'm not going to buy a Ferrari" I tell her.
"Well, a Ferrari is really stupid to get, a good car is one that you can take your future colleagues to more places, but for that we'll need to take out more money for when we go on these trips, I know a perfect one, four doors and it has a flashy engine that gives you the impression that it's no small feat, a Holden Commodore" I don't know what this car is, but she shows me on her mobile phone and well, it's kind of pretty, I have to admit.
"And how much does one of these cost?" I ask her.
"About 30,000 dollars, well come on it's your first car, I'm sure you'll enjoy it, I'll leave my old Holden in the garage so they won't see your old car and judge you, believe it or not these university people are usually very starched so they'll talk about the smallest details, but as long as you can afford them for fun I'm sure you'll succeed in becoming a teacher in Luna Nova" I hope so.
"Well then, that's how it goes, apart from the notes" she nodded in agreement.
"That's how I did it, even against my will I made friends with everyone, until I became a Luna Nova teacher, so much so that many people still know me when I walk around here, it was a different time, I drove my car around, I took people out, we went to parties, as I was the poorest of the group, they kind of took me, because I was the most intelligent I paid them with help, doing some of their work, it was a lot of work, but in the end it was worth it, I got where I wanted to go" I understood how it works.
Well that's what it's going to be then, I'm going to build up my reputation by being a fake to everyone, but I'm kind of already being a fake in general, I'm not going to build up a reputation as a good girl if that's what it takes, I'm only going to be friends with the right people, that's what I'm going to do, which unfortunately will be bad if someone nice turns up to be my friend and they're not that kind of person.
"So I went to college, I was going to have to graduate if I wanted to become a Luna Nova teacher, and wellnow came the university Chariot phase, I'm going to summarise it a lot because not much happened otherthan what a university life is supposed to, well in any case I didn't have as much fun as I did in Luna Nova,because it all seemed like a lot of theatre to me."
"I remember you entering Luna Nova, it was practically at the same time as me, being introduced as the newAstrology teacher, now I'm curious to see the journey there, because mine was pretty intense putting up withmy aunt."
"Soon there will also come days when I was almost discovered as Chariot, it was really a time when I justswitched off who I really was to be this character that I became, the one Ursula Callistis the result of thewhole Chariot Du Nord journey having gone wrong.
See you, new witches...