Bienvenue à Magix: Chapter 1: Under a fake name

Guided by Stella, we walk to Alfea while, in front of us, young girls from all walks of life* hurry towards the gate. A giant blue gate between two castle towers, thin as a pair of butterfly wings, opens.

Suddenly, Dad, who is walking ahead of us, collides at full force into an invisible wall. Intrigued, I grope around for an obstacle. But for me, it does not exist. This isn't one of Stella's jokes, is it? According to my friend, Magix is surrounded by a protection barrier, that stops those without magic powers from entering.

Poor Dad, poor Mom... Since they are ordinary Earthlings, their exploration of Magix stops here. To see them so sad to leave that they ask Kiko to watch me... My blue rabbit is adorable, but it's not him who will protect me. I prefer to count on myself. Or on Stella.

My parents hug me tightly one last time. Then Stella sends them back to Earth with a wave of her magic scepter.

At Alfea's gate, there stands a grim-looking woman, with oblong glasses, hair straight as drum sticks and a severe ankle-length dress. She checks off students on her registration list.

"That's Griselda, the proctor," Stella warns me. "Here's a piece of advice, Bloom: watch out for her."

My heart begins to beat wildly. Me, of course I'm nowhere on the list! Did Stella forget that little detail? My friend notices my anxiety and whispers to me that she had thought of everything. The princess Varanda of Callisto had changed her mind at the last moment about her school year. She had charged Stella to pass a letter to the headmistress. But since no one here has never seen this princess, I could easily take her place. Stella rips the letter. I'm a little shocked.

"But it's wrong to do that!"

Stella laughs casually:

"No, Bloom, it's just a little lie..."

Anyways, could I do anything about it? No! And how to go back, go back to school's gates or go develop my magic powers? I step forward trembling. At the moment, Griselda is more interested in my friend.

"I'm dreaming! The princess Stella of Solaria! I never thought that I would see you after what happened last year..."

"I don't give up that easily, you already know that."

I look at my friend in shock: what happened last year? But the proctor turned to me and I give her my borrowed name: Varanda of Callisto.

She checks her list... And signals us to enter! Phew!

"You see," Stella whispers. "I've always got great ideas!"

"Yes, but what is this story about last year?"

"Oh, nothing much. Griselda loves to exaggerate."

Since in my opinion, my friend is not telling me the whole truth, I don't insist.


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* "...des jeunes filles de tous les styles se pressent ver..." was the original sentence. I'm not quite sure what they meant by de tous les styles so I'm open to interpretation if you have any suggestions.