A dense mist envelops the area. Gabrielle is lying at the entrance of a sumptuous garden, surrounded by a vast array of shrubbery like Oleagnos, Azaleas, and some Boxwoods. Behind her, close to where Gabrielle is lying, stands a four-story mansion of gigantic proportions, extremely luxurious. Gabrielle looks confusedly at the mansion, and in a window on the second floor, we see a young woman with a short "bob" haircut; she appears to be a housemaid.
— Don't forget what you just told me! — says the person, loudly enough for Gabrielle to hear.
The young woman looks intently at Gabrielle, with tears in her eyes and a tender smile.
— Go! Don't waste any more time here! Leave! — The smile fades, and a look of unease appears, as if some part of her had been torn away.
Gabrielle returns the look and the tender smile to the young woman, then immediately turns to face what's ahead of her: the opulent iron gate of the property. Determined, she begins to run even before fully standing up, resolved to leave the magnificent estate behind.
She runs with all her might, with a determined expression, though letting a few tears escape.
— I won't let this chance slip away; nothing will have been in vain! I won't give up!
Gabrielle has her head down, arms crossed over her notebook, feeling very sleepy. She slowly opens one eye and realizes she's fully slumped over her desk in the classroom. Surprised and disapproving looks from her classmates are directed at her.
— I'm glad you're not giving up on my class, but you need to start by not sleeping in it. — says the teacher in a clearly reproachful tone.
Gabrielle suddenly stands up, embarrassed, while her classmates laugh. Still a bit dazed, she looks at the chalkboard, which is filled with notes, while her notebook remains empty.
— My God, when did I fall asleep? — Gabrielle asks herself, realizing she was dreaming of memories she thought she had forgotten, leaving her somewhat bewildered.
Gabrielle tries to focus on the lesson, but it seems too late, as the teacher begins erasing the notes on the board. The young woman's eyes widen with an expression of despair and sadness. "Nooo!" Gabrielle screams mentally.
That's when she feels something gently touch her arm. It's Daniela, her best friend and desk neighbor, a girl with curly hair cut just below her shoulders, black with blue tips. She wears thick square glasses and is visibly a bit overweight.
— Here, you can copy; you didn't miss much… — says Daniela with a kind and sincere look, handing her notebook to Gabrielle so she can copy the notes.
Noticing Gabrielle's exhausted appearance, Daniela, concerned for her friend, says in a caring tone, "Your dark circles are worse than usual today, and you look drained."
Daniela's words fall on deaf ears as Gabrielle happily opens her friend's notebook. The young woman is very relieved to know she hasn't missed the class notes.
— You saved me! — says the blonde girl, singing.
— I hope all this exhaustion is from partying — Daniela insists in a slightly concerned and stern tone.
Gabrielle chokes and begins to laugh nervously, remembering what happened at the Pousada Buraquinho and the discovery of the existence of Djinns and Tars. She responds to her friend, — Lots of partying! You have no idea… — Gabrielle replies with a slightly ironic tone.
Daniela looks suspiciously at Gabrielle but decides not to press the matter.
Gabrielle then eagerly bends over the notebook and starts copying Daniela's notes, but the memories of the previous day are still fresh in her mind, especially the erratic behavior of the Djinn. "I hope Farid behaves in my room! I'm his Master; he won't disobey me. I get nervous just thinking about him causing trouble," she thinks while copying the missed notes.
The bell rings loudly, signaling the end of the first class period.
***
Guilherme is calmly cleaning the pool at Pousada Buraquinho when he sees, from the deck area, Farid in his human form, coming out of Gabrielle's room, passing through the wall facing the pool area.
—Tsk… — grumbles Farid, making a face when he realizes Guilherme saw him passing through the walls. The Djinn then takes a deep breath and returns to his usual expression.
— Hey there, my dear, how's it going? No hard feelings, right? — says Farid, casually waving at Guilherme.
Hearing Farid speak to him, Guilherme gives a lukewarm smile and quickly turns his attention back to the pool.
— You just can't stay still for a moment, can you? — Guilherme asks Farid placidly.
Farid notices that Guilherme isn't very thrilled about his presence and doesn't seem eager to chat with the Djinn.
— I think a little resentment is normal, right? Don't worry, I don't mind — says Farid, visibly disappointed by Guilherme's lukewarm reaction and quite offended that the young Oshiro still harbors some resentment.
Guilherme, still calmly cleaning the pool and not paying much attention to Farid's flamboyant behavior, decides to continue the conversation with the Djinn.
— I imagine your Master asked you to stay quietly in your golden chamber pot…? — questions the young Oshiro.
Farid, excited by Guilherme's question and thinking he wants to continue the conversation, sits down on a deck chair and conjures a bunch of grapes that float beside him.
— She just told me to behave and stay quiet; she didn't mention anything about the chamber pot. — Farid responds while lazily reclining on one of the poolside loungers.
— And are you behaving by spending the Sands of Desire, which now belong to her? — retorts Guilherme in a monotone voice.
A grape detaches from the bunch and floats into Farid's mouth, which he savors, looking very relaxed and content.
— She didn't say anything about that — Farid replies, slowly eating the grapes.
Upon hearing Farid, Guilherme, who had his back to the Djinn, turns around and says in a speculative tone, — And I'm sure you didn't explain to her how things work. — He immediately goes back to cleaning the pool.
Farid doesn't seem too concerned about the situation and responds nonchalantly, — Those explanations are so tiring, Gui... In my millennia of experience, no one pays attention to them... You barely listened to anything yourself.
Guilherme pauses for a moment, surprised and confused by how the Djinn just referred to him.
— Gui?… — After a pause, surprised by the way he was addressed, Guilherme continues, — And I really didn't pay much attention, but I also had no idea Tars existed... much less that the amount of Sands of Desire used in each wish could attract them.
— By the way, Farid, I have a question. The Djinn and their Masters are always connected here in the physical plane, right? — Guilherme continues, realizing something important as he looks at Farid, who had conjured juices, fruit baskets, and even fans for himself.
— Exactly, Gui! Master and Djinn are so connected that, in Gabrielle's case, I can smell everyone around her, even while I'm here — Farid replies, taking a deep breath and then grimacing.
Guilherme shows a bored expression as he realizes Farid didn't understand what he was getting at. He takes a deep breath and continues, trying to be clearer.
— I'm not talking about that... I mean the body of the Master and the Djinn... they're connected, right? — Guilherme asks.
— And what did I just say? — Farid responds a bit blasé, lying on the lounger as if sunbathing.
Guilherme makes a slightly impatient expression, takes a deeper breath, and continues, this time speaking more firmly, — You don't get it! I'm not just talking about the body, but also the Sands of Desire. You share them too, don't you?
Farid, who wasn't paying much attention, looks at Guilherme, lifting the sunglasses he had just conjured, and replies:
— Man, this is so hard to explain... yes, the Sands of Desire flow between Master and Djinn. If I want to gather them in one place, I can use the Hourglass of Wishes, but outside of it, the Sands flow through both of us, through our entire bodies.
Guilherme, even though busy cleaning the pool, had been listening carefully to Farid's explanations, and after reflecting, he asks:
— As I suspected... Doesn't that mean the Tars can sense the location of you and Gabrielle every time you use the Sands, even if you're separated?
Farid, who didn't seem too concerned about Guilherme's questions, falls silent for a moment, and as Guilherme continues asking questions and pressing Farid, the Djinn starts to show increasing tension.
— Yes... the Tars can sense my magnificent Prana through Gabrielle…"
Having a bad feeling about what could happen, Farid jumps up from the lounger and rushes over to Guilherme, shaking the young man by the shoulders, saying:
— They'll swarm her like it's a clearance sale! We've got to go after her, Gui!
Hearing these words, Guilherme gets irritated with Farid and raises his voice, pulling the cleaning net out of the pool as he says,
— I knew it, she really is in danger! You're so irresponsible, Farid! You let her go out alone without explaining anything! She could be attacked and not even know why. We have to go after her... NOW… — Guilherme starts walking toward the stairs that lead to the upper floors of Pousada Buraquinho when he suddenly stops, turns to Farid, and says — ...I don't know where the school is!
Farid, who was behind Guilherme, steps forward and, in a tone of self-flattery, acting like a hammy actor, responds:
— Don't worry, Gui, since I'm connected to the Blonde, I can sense her wherever she is!
Farid closes his eyes, places his index and middle fingers on the talisman on his forehead, and begins to concentrate. Suddenly, he opens his eyes and, in a slightly louder tone, announces:
— FOUND HER! Let's go, Gui! — Farid then grabs Guilherme's left arm, snaps his fingers, and a golden flash floods the entire area.
***
It's break time, and Gabrielle is sitting next to Daniela on one of the stone benches in a corner of the school's expansive courtyard, behind the sports courts. She's wearing rounded reading glasses, engrossed in reading lines from a script. Daniela, sitting beside her, is eating a cereal bar.
— Do you have an audition today, Gaby? — Daniela asks, noticing Gabrielle avidly reading the script and rehearsing alone.
— Yes! — Gabrielle responds excitedly, almost as if she had been expecting Daniela's question, and continues, — There's going to be a Dom Casmurro adaptation performed at the municipal theater. The company wants all the students to audition, even beginners like me. — says Gabrielle, full of enthusiasm.
Daniela notices her friend's excitement and seems slightly curious about the subject.
— The school where you take acting classes is very traditional, right? — Daniela continues.
Gabrielle breaks into a wide smile and promptly responds with pride.
— Yes! I study at 'O Palco.' The school was founded in the 1950s by Mary Clair Martelo. It's the largest and best technical acting course in the country. Many renowned actors studied there, and…
RAWRRRR... Gabrielle's stomach growls loudly, making its presence audibly known, leaving both girls embarrassed. Daniela looks at her friend with concern.
— You didn't have breakfast again, did you? That's why you look so worn out — says Daniela, pulling another cereal bar from her bag and handing it to Gabrielle, adding, — My mom put me on a diet, eat this, if you try hard enough, it may has a good taste. Try it.
Gabrielle's mouth instantly fills with saliva at the sight of the cereal bar. Her empty stomach, seeming to anticipate getting some food, churns.
— You're always saving me, Dani! Thanks! — says Gabrielle, grabbing the cereal bar as if it were a precious prize, and she immediately starts savoring it.
Suddenly, a commotion among the students starts, and the girls notice some classmates running toward the school gate. Gabrielle and Daniela exchange puzzled looks.
— How strange... what could be going on? — Daniela asks her friend, even though she knows Gabrielle has no idea what's happening.
Finding it odd that so many students are heading towards the entrance gate, Daniela calls out to Jéssica Caldeira, the class leader, as she passes by heading toward the gate.
— Hey, Jessica, what's all this fuss about?! — Daniela asks in an inquisitive tone.
— There's a weird guy who looks like an Arab Sheikh trying to get into the school!— Jéssica replies speculatively as she approaches the girls sitting on the bench.
— An Arab Sheikh? — Daniela asks, frowning and clearly curious.
Gabrielle, who was happily eating the snack Daniela gave her, stops mid-bite upon hearing that the intriguing visitor looks like an Arab Sheikh, and begins to pay close attention to the conversation, now very worried.
— They said he looks like one of those guys from Dubai. I'm thinking of going to check it out. Someone texted me saying his henchman is threatening Mr. Zé with an iron club at the gate. — Jéssica adds.
At that moment, Gabrielle chokes on the cereal bar and starts coughing. Thoughts of Farid entering the school and showing off to everyone flood the young girl's mind, making her very nervous. "It can't be Farid… where would he get a henchman?"
— Are You okay there, Gaby? — Daniela asks, noticing Gabrielle choking on the cereal bar.
Gabrielle nods and replies, — Yes, I just choked.
Daniela, now very curious, jumps up from the bench, full of excitement.
— Let's go see the drama, Gaby! — Daniela says, inviting Gabrielle to go to the school's entrance gate to check out what's happening.
Gabrielle seems a bit hesitant. She's very apprehensive about going to the gate and possibly finding Farid there, but she gives in upon seeing her friend's excitement.
— Okay, let's go… — Gabrielle mutters, somewhat apathetic.
***
Dom Pedro I High is a respected public educational institution, being one of the most traditional schools in Brazil. It has several campuses spread throughout the state of Rio de Janeiro, with the main one located in the state capital's downtown area. This is the campus where Gabrielle and Daniela study. The main campus is situated on a narrow street. Numerous cars are parked on the right side of the street, while beautiful commercial buildings are visible on the left. A large number of trees along the sidewalk help make the street pleasant. The school grounds are so extensive that they span an entire city block.
The leafy and well-known gate of Dom Pedro I High is double and barred. Between the two gates is the entrance booth, where the school's doorman, Mr. José Macedo, affectionately called Mr. Zé, is stationed.
The commotion Jessica had mentioned was already underway when the first students began approaching the gate to see what was happening. Two men were desperately trying to enter the school premises, warning that something very dangerous could happen if the doorman continued to block their entry. They were outside while Mr. Zé firmly held the gate shut.
The mysterious visitor indeed seems to be one of the wealthy inhabitants of the United Arab Emirates. Dressed in a very refined manner, the stranger wears an elegant black suit, well-tailored, with a smooth white shirt underneath the extravagant blazer, which has a mandarin collar and is encrusted with blue sapphires from the shoulder down to below the waist, where two pockets are located, one on each side. The lapel is short with gold-embroidered arabesques. The same arabesques are present on the cuffs of the blazer. He also wears a high ponytail, tied with gold clasps, giving him a seductive appearance. His companion, on the other hand, is dressed in an inexorably simple manner, wearing jean shorts, a red polo shirt, and Havaianas flip-flops. He also carries a large aluminum pole with him.
— I won't say it again; you won't enter without authorization! — Mr. Zé firmly declares, holding the gate to prevent the visitors from entering.
— Sir, it's very important, a student is in danger! — says Guilherme Oshiro anxiously. Yes, one of the mysterious visitors is Gabrielle's boss, who was brought to the school, along with Farid, through teleportation.
— The one in danger is you if you keep threatening me with that piece of metal! — retorts Mr. Zé, already nervous about the whole situation.
— No, sir... I'm not threatening you, actually, this ended up coming with me by accident… — Guilherme responds, feeling embarrassed for having been teleported along with the pool cleaning net.
— Gui, step aside, you have no tact with people; let ME handle this — says Farid, the supposed Arab Sheikh, taking charge with an imposing posture.
The students behind the second gate, which is past the entrance booth, are excited. Among the exuberant teenagers, all kinds of comments can be heard.
— Whoa, the guy from Dubai got involved! — one student exclaims.
— Throw a wad of cash at him! — adds another student.
— Throw money at us! — responds a third student, accompanied by a friend who loudly says:
— Open the gate and let the rich guy in, Mr. Zé!
The students' outbursts further inflate Farid's ego, who, taking advantage of their jesting, finds a way to enter the school premises. Farid then reaches into his jacket, and a small glimmer is visible.
Seeing Farid's movement, Mr. Zé becomes apprehensive.
— If you pull out a weapon, I'm calling the police! — Mr. Zé says, even more nervous, stepping back towards the entrance booth to protect himself from a potential attack.
— Calm down, good man, I would never resort to violence! — Farid says with a charming smile.
Farid then pulls an envelope from his blazer, the size and volume of which would be impossible to fit inside the suit, and hands it to the doorman.
Not understanding anything, Mr. Zé takes the envelope and cautiously looks at its contents, becoming astounded with a foolish smile when he discovers what it contains.
— But… is this serious? — Mr. Zé says, with a dumbfounded expression, his eyes showing that the simple doorman couldn't believe what he had just received: an unimaginable sum of money.
— I am always very serious! Now open the gate and let us in. — Farid pronounces with a smile and a charismatic attitude.
— Of course, sir, right away! — responds the grateful doorman, already imagining how he will spend the small fortune he just received from the Genie.
The janitor then opens the gate for the visitors with the utmost efficiency. The students, impressed, resume the previous clamor, making some jests. "The Sheikh bought Mr. Zé!", "Buy me too!", "I'm also a doorman!"
As they enter the school's atrium, Farid displays an expression of achieved victory. Mr. Zé closes the double gate to prevent the students from leaving and clears a path through them for Farid and Guilherme to pass.
As they walk past the students, Farid sends triumphant looks and smiles at Guilherme. Young Oshiro, in turn, can't believe what he has just witnessed, and his expression of disbelief is more than clear.
— Your tact with people is bribing the doorman? — murmurs Guilherme after approaching Farid.
Farid then looks at Guilherme with an evasive expression, as if giving himself justifications for the spectacle with the envelope of money staged a few minutes earlier.
— Come on, it worked, didn't it?! — Farid responds in a low tone, trying to dodge Guilherme's question.
Farid's sly response causes Guilherme to feel a surge of impatience, leading him to place one hand on his face in annoyance.
— You're using her Sands of Desire like it's water... do you realize that a Tar could spring up from anywhere and attack Gabrielle!? — Guilherme retorts in an irritated tone while following Farid and Mr. Zé.
— My use is only for strictly necessary things. — Farid deflects, trying to avoid the subject, and walking faster to distance himself from Guilherme, who keeps up with the Djinn.
— Necessary? Let me see… passing through walls, teleportation, expensive clothes, conjuring money… I'm surprised no Tar has appeared yet! — Guilherme enumerates, who, strangely, is already feeling a fury rising up his spine.
— Those are just little details… — says Farid, trying to end the conversation with Guilherme once and for all.
They continue moving through the courtyard, but the number of curious students prevents them from entering the school more quickly. Guilherme seems very irritable, and besides the strange agitation, he suddenly also begins to feel dizzy and experiences some chills, as if something is wrong with his body.
— By the way... using the Sands of Desire like this, wouldn't it be the same as granting wishes? It would be like a beacon of your position, right? —
Guilherme continues, his breathing a bit heavier as he talks to Farid.
The Djinn, on the other hand, seems not to notice the changes in Guilherme's breathing and behavior, who begins to pale, feeling increasingly shaky and nervous. On the other hand, Farid's calm and nonchalance seem to enrage young Oshiro even more.
— Don't worry, trust the master. — Farid responds confidently, trying to calm Guilherme, who is becoming more impatient. He even taps the aluminum pole on the ground a few times, trying to relieve his discomfort.
They advance to the center of the school courtyard. Farid walks gracefully and confidently, smiling at the students around him. Then he stops walking and suddenly starts to break out in a cold sweat. He has just spotted Gabrielle, and she does not have the best of expressions.
Gabrielle is approaching the exit courtyard with a terrifying aura around her, with Daniela, curious, following closely behind. The previously euphoric students fall silent when they see her and make way.
— What are you doing here?! — Gabrielle articulates, speaking through clenched teeth after getting close to Farid.
— You know the rich guy? — asks Daniela, not hiding her surprise. Although Gabrielle had tried to muffle her voice by speaking through clenched teeth, Daniela was close enough to hear.
Gabrielle ignores her friend's question and steps closer to Farid. She stops and looks at the Djinn's companions, first noticing the pool cleaning net, then realizing Guilherme's presence.
— Mr. Oshiro…?! — Gabrielle asks, slightly confused, staring in amazement at the pool cleaning net. — What... are YOU TWO doing here? — Gabrielle continues, even more bewildered.
— Surprise! We came to visit your school! — Farid responds with a big, shameless smile.
Gabrielle, who had been looking at Guilherme and the strange pole, glares at Farid, frowning. At this moment, Mr. Zé, who had been accompanying Farid and Guilherme, interrupts Gabrielle and, addressing Farid, says:
— So, it was young Gabrielle you came to see! Since you've found her, I'll head to the principal's office. You can make yourselves at home. — Mr. Zé then leaves the courtyard and heads toward the main school building.
Gabrielle continues to glare at Farid, and after Mr. Zé leaves for the principal's office, she continues to question Farid.
— I told you not to leave the room!? — she says with a slightly irritated voice.
Farid, still smiling mockingly, wraps his arm around Gabrielle's neck and counters his Mistress's words.
— Technically, you told me to behave, at no point did you forbid me from following you. — Farid says smugly.
From another perspective, Guilherme's discomfort starts to escalate and worsen. He leans on the pool cleaning pole and brings his hands to his face, seemingly struggling to breathe.
— You... are... in danger! — Guilherme gasps, speaking with labored breaths.
Guilherme's veins bulge, and a supernatural aura begins to surround him. His eyes flicker between red and their normal color in spasms.
Daniela notices Guilherme's strange state, with the rapid changes in his eyes, and she becomes frightened, her body tensing up from the fear.
— They're your friends, right, Gaby? — Daniela asks, her voice filled with severe concern.
Gabrielle notices Daniela's reaction and begins to observe the changes in Guilherme. She then looks at Farid with a questioning expression, only now noticing Guilherme's condition.
— Oh... it seems he couldn't handle it… — Farid says, a bit worried.
Gabrielle frowns, not liking Farid's comment at all, already realizing that the Djinn had done something to the young Oshiro while she was unconscious.
— Couldn't handle what? What did you do? Didn't you say he was 'good as new'? — Gabrielle questions, her voice noticeably irritated.
Farid then places his hand on his chin and makes a thoughtful expression, trying to remember what could have gone wrong with the Astral Purification that Shamal used on Guilherme.
— Technically, the Astral Purification is supposed to purify the Sands of Desire in isolation; this was the first time my powers were used to purify them when consumed by a Tar... funny, I thought it had worked… — Farid says, thinking aloud about what happened during Guilherme's Astral Purification.
Gabrielle hears Farid's musings and feels her anger rising! She frowns even more and speaks quite harshly to the Djinn.
— The first time you used it?! You *thought* it worked? Do you think this is a joke?
She wants to approach Guilherme because she is genuinely worried about him, but she hesitates, recalling what happened last time.
Suddenly, a large tremor that seems to come from far away begins to resonate throughout the school. The ground shakes, and the windows rattle. Everyone in the area finds it strange.
— Whoa, is there an earthquake in Rio de Janeiro now? — a student says, and a murmur begins.
Guilherme, still leaning on the pool skimmer pole, seems to sense something. He then doubles over as if in pain and speaks with great difficulty.
— Get... out... NOW! — Guilherme says, deeply worried about what might happen to Gabrielle if he loses control.
Guilherme's teeth start to become sharp, and his eyes settle into a solid red. The students who were still in the courtyard, curious about the so-called Arab Sheikh and his connection with a student, start noticing the changes and become even more frightened.
Gabrielle sees the new changes in Guilherme and, pulling Daniela, moves further away from Oshiro.
— He's going to turn into a Tar again... if that happens, he might hurt other people!! And what was that tremor just now? — Gabrielle says with fear and desperation in her voice.
— Tar? What are you talking about, Gaby? — Daniela immediately asks, noticing Gabrielle's state of concern.
— It's a very long story, Dani! I'll tell you later… — Gabrielle responds, her voice tinged with anxiety.
Another large tremor occurs, followed by another and another, with decreasing intervals, giving the impression that something is approaching. The students grow increasingly anxious, and a commotion begins as they try to escape the school, which has its gates closed.
— What's happening, Farid?! Did you do something? — Gabrielle asks, almost accusingly, growing more and more worried.
Farid, despite his carefree attitude, had already foreseen that something dangerous could happen and observed all around the school for the best way out.
— Blondie, let's get out of here… — Farid says urgently.
He grabs Gabrielle by the arm, who in turn holds onto Daniela. He then opens the two gates, which were locked, with great ease in a single motion.
Most of the students rush out through the gate in a crowd, preventing Farid and Gabrielle from escaping immediately.
Gabrielle notices that Guilherme has leaned against one of the pillars supporting the courtyard roof and doesn't want to leave him alone, even though he might turn into a Tar and attack her. Additionally, there's the possibility that he could attack the students and staff at the school.
— Hey! We can't just leave Mr. Oshiro like this… — she says, genuinely concerned about leaving Guilherme alone while strange things are happening, trying to pull away from Farid and go towards Guilherme.
Farid firmly holds onto Gabrielle's arm, preventing her from approaching Guilherme.
— He can take care of himself, we need to go. It's dangerous to stay here! — Farid says firmly.
Seeing that the students were escaping the school, Gabrielle reluctantly agrees with Farid and follows him and Daniela towards the exit.
A car flies at high speed toward Farid and Gabrielle.