Success had a specific sound — the constant buzz of notifications in the Resilientes group. It had a particular smell — strong coffee and stale pizza shared at two in the morning. And it had an unmistakable face — Marina's, exhausted but fiercely proud.
The "Water of Tomorrow" project had become UFPA's new banner. But with the official selection for the National Enactus Event in São Paulo, euphoria gave way to a crushing gravity.
"They're not calling us 'the unknowns from the North' anymore," Felipe said, entering the room with a stack of papers. "We're the 'Phenomena from Belém.' Everyone wants to defeat us."
Leonardo looked up from his laptop, dark circles under his eyes. "With visibility comes pressure. And with pressure comes the expectation to prove it wasn't... luck."
The word hung in the air. Luck.
"And new nicknames," Felipe added, looking at Gabriel. "I heard three freshmen calling you 'the Light of Enactus'."
Gabriel, who was reviewing reports with Carlos, raised his head. The boy who had arrived in Belém fleeing from spotlights knew that sometimes you had to occupy center stage so others could find their footing. He simply nodded.
"Light," Marina repeated, testing the word. "It's perfect. It's exactly what you do for all of us."
[System Notification: Team Morale Stabilizing.]
[Current Status: High Stress / Fragile.]
…
Later, seeking refuge from the noise, Gabriel found Sofia at Mangal das Garças. The late afternoon sun painted the river orange, casting long shadows through the butterfly garden.
"The pressure for nationals is weighing on you," she said softly. It wasn't a question.
Gabriel hesitated, watching a heron take flight. "I think my role isn't to be the star. It's to ensure the stage doesn't collapse so others can shine."
Sofia smiled, adjusting her camera lens. "Sometimes whoever holds the lantern never appears in the photo. But without them, nobody finds the way."
She paused, turning to him. Her eyes caught the sunset, but her gaze pierced deeper.
"But tell me, Gabriel... who will hold your lantern when you get tired?"
The question echoed in his chest, unanswered.
…
The crisis exploded during their most intense presentation simulation. Marina, relentless in her pursuit of perfection, tested every aspect.
"Carlos, the simulation crashed again," she said, her voice sharp with fatigue. "We can't have this margin of error in São Paulo. The judges will tear us apart."
The criticism hit Carlos with disproportionate force. The shy engineer, usually the anchor of logic, cracked.
"I can't do it!" he shouted, throwing his notebook on the table. The sound was like a gunshot in the small room.
"Carlos—" Marina started.
"No!" He stood up, trembling. "What happened in Vila Esperança wasn't my code, Marina. It was him." He pointed a shaking finger at Gabriel. "It was your 'Light,' Gabriel, not my engineering! You're asking me to replicate a miracle, and I'm just a shy kid from Marabá who writes code!"
He stormed out, slamming the door.
The silence that remained sucked the oxygen from the room. The Resilientes looked at each other, the illusion of invincibility shattered.
Gabriel's gaze wandered to a photo on the wall: Dona Maria's smile. It wasn't about winning. It was about that.
[System Alert: Party Member 'Carlos' - Critical Morale Failure.]
[Recommended Action: Stabilize Foundation.]
Gabriel stood up. "I've got this."
…
He found Carlos in the empty engineering lab, sitting in the dark before a screen full of equations. The blue light washed over his face, highlighting the tears of frustration.
Gabriel said nothing. Just sat beside him and waited.
"I'm a fraud," Carlos whispered, not looking away from the screen. "The brain of the operation who doesn't understand how his own creation works. That efficiency spike... I can't recreate it."
"No," Gabriel said, his voice firm but gentle. "The Light only turns on if the circuit is assembled. You assembled the circuit, Carlos. I just cleared the interference."
He leaned in, his dark eyes intense. "Your competence is the foundation of everything. Without your code, my 'luck' has nowhere to flow."
"I need to believe it wasn't just magic," Carlos said, his voice choked. "I need to know I'm good enough."
Gabriel felt an echo from the past — the same doubt he had felt before picking up a sword for the first time. He knew what to do. Not a spell. Not a miracle.
A Buff.
He extended his hand.
"I can't give you scientific proof right now," Gabriel said. "But I can give you my word. An oath, like in the old stories."
Carlos looked at him, confused but listening.
"I swear," Gabriel continued, his voice laden with an ancient conviction that made the air in the lab feel dense, "that your mind is the sharpest weapon we have. I swear I'll be here to sustain the foundation you build, no matter how strong the storm."
He looked Carlos in the eye.
"I believe in you. Now, I need you to trust me enough to believe in yourself."
Carlos hesitated. Then, he gripped Gabriel's hand.
In the instant of contact, Gabriel didn't push mana. He pushed Will. He pushed the absolute certainty of a general rallying his soldier.
The keychain in Gabriel's pocket warmed with a calm, golden purpose.
[System Skill Activated: Guardian's Assurance.]
[Effect: Fear Immunity conferred to Target.]
Carlos took a deep breath. His shoulders dropped. The trembling stopped.
"Okay," Carlos said, a new firmness in his voice. "Okay. Let's debug this code."
…
When they returned to the Enactus room, the atmosphere changed instantly. Marina looked at them, analyzed Carlos's posture, and smiled.
"Resolved?"
"Resolved," Carlos confirmed, sitting at his laptop with renewed focus. "I found the logic error. We don't need a miracle. We just need to optimize the intake loop."
"That's what we'll do in São Paulo," Leonardo said, closing his laptop. "We won't win with superior technology. We'll win by being a unit. By being resilient."
"That's why you never wanted to be the official leader, Gabriel," Felipe said with a smile of recognition. "Always knew your function was keeping everyone connected."
"You don't lead from the front," Marina added softly. "You lead from the center, ensuring the structure doesn't collapse. And that, my friend, is the rarest and most powerful type of leadership."
…
That night, alone in his apartment, Gabriel opened a new notebook — a habit he'd picked up from watching Sofia.
He thought about the lost boy who'd arrived in Belém. He thought about the sword, the bridge, and the fear.
He picked up a pen and wrote in firm handwriting:
I'm not the Hero who wins alone. I'm the Hero who creates the conditions for others to win together.
I discovered today that being a bridge between worlds isn't about being torn apart; it's about the privilege of connecting people and possibilities.
And that is the purest form of magic that exists.
[System Notification: Class Evolution.]
[Class Confirmed: Sovereign of Support.]
He felt at peace.
He looked out the window toward the dark river. Far away, an isolated light floated over the water, pulsing softly.
Gabriel knew, with absolute certainty, that it responded to him. A silent dialogue across the void.
It wasn't fear. It was recognition. He wasn't alone.
As quickly as it appeared, the light faded. In the silence, a voice echoed in his mind — clear, regal, and without the usual sadness.
"When the shadow is too long, it's because the light is finally strong enough to cast it."
Outside, Belém slept. And for the first time, Gabriel went to sleep knowing exactly who he was.
He was Light. He was the Bridge.
Somewhere very distant, a feminine voice whispered with infinite relief:
"He's ready, finally. My Solmere is ready."