Chapter 1 (english): Madil, the girl who survived.

Mrs. Silva, from alley 13 in the Candelaria favela in Rio de Janeiro, was proud of having raised her daughter alone. Mrs. Silva worked as a housekeeper for the wealthy Dubois family in Copacabana. She did cleaning, cooking, and took care of the Dubois' children. She was a tall and skinny woman with a severe but kind face. Although she had voluminous hair, she always covered it with a colorful shawl. Her daughter Madil was a curly-haired, green-eyed mixed-race girl who was twice as clever as other normal children. This was very useful because she spent most of her day alone, walking around the streets after school, spying on the neighbors and jumping from one roof to another.

The Souzas lived in Belo Horizonte and had a little boy named Pedro. For the Souzas, there was no better boy anywhere in the world. They lived a perfectly normal life and were the last people in the world one would expect to get involved in anything strange or mysterious because they simply did not agree with that kind of nonsense. Although they had everything they wanted, they also had a secret, and their greatest fear was that someone would find out about their relationship with Mrs. Silva and her daughter. Mrs. Souza was Mrs. Silva's half-sister, but they had not spoken to each other for many years. In fact, Mrs. Souza pretended she had no sister because Mrs. Silva and her useless ex-husband were nothing like the Souzas. They trembled at the thought of what the neighbors would say. The Souzas knew that Mrs. Silva had a little girl too, but they had never seen her. The girl was just another reason to keep the Souzas at a distance; they did not want their precious son to mix with a child like that.

When Mr. and Mrs. Souza woke up on the monotonous and sunny Tuesday On March 31, 1964 on which our story begins, there was nothing in the blue sky outside suggesting the strange and mysterious things that would soon be happening throughout the country. Mr. Souza hummed as he drank his tasteless black coffee with his French bread, a bland breakfast, and Mrs. Souza chatted cheerfully as she struggled to get Pedro to eat something before going to school.

Neither of them noticed a blue macaw that flew past the window flapping its wings.

At half past eight, Mr. Souza picked up his backpack, gave Mrs. Souza a peck on the cheek, sang their memo together keys wallet badge, and tried to give Pedro a goodbye kiss, but couldn't because he was refusing to eat his breakfast.

"Cute little guy," Mr. Souza said, laughing awkwardly as he left the house. He entered the elevator that went directly to the lobby and pressed the garage button. In the parking lot of the Boulevard building on Liberty Square, number four.

It was in the square itself that he noticed the first hint that something strange was happening: a caramel-colored dog was reading the local newspaper. For a moment, Mr. Souza didn't realize what he had seen - then he quickly turned his head to take a second look. There was a caramel-colored dog sitting in Liberty Square, but there was no newspaper in sight. It must have been a trick of the light. He blinked and widened his eyes at the dog. The dog stared back and barked. As he turned the corner and drove up the street, he glanced at the dog in the rearview mirror. Now it was reading the sign for the Mines and Metals Museum - no, it was looking at the sign: dogs couldn't read newspapers or signs. Mr. Souza shook his head and pushed the dog out of his mind. During the rest of the drive to work, he thought of nothing but the big goal of the day.

But as he left the city, the goals were swept from his mind by something else. As he sat in the usual morning traffic jam on Amazonas Avenue, he couldn't help but notice that there were a strangely dressed group of people walking the streets in military clothing, but not normal military clothing, people with wide capes. Mr. Souza didn't tolerate people who dressed ridiculously but loved the military and seeing this combination disturbed him deeply. The traffic moved forward and a few minutes later Mr. Souza arrived at the parking lot of his company, his thoughts back on the goals.He had completely forgotten about the people in military capes all morning until he passed by a group of them in the hallway of his company. He looked at them curiously as he passed. He didn't know why, but they made him feel afraid. It was while passing by them on the way back, carrying a large stack of paper to his office, that he overheard a few words of what they were saying.

- ... in Brasilia, it's true, that's what I heard...

• ... yeah, the Ministry of Magic, CasteloBruxo...

Mr. Souza suddenly stopped. Fear invaded him.

He was shaken. He ran to his car and drove home, hoping he was imagining things, which he had never hoped to do before. When he entered the car park at Liberty Square, the first thing he saw - and it didn't improve his state of mind - was the caramel-colored dog he had noticed that morning. Now it was sitting in the garden. He was sure it was the same one, with the markings around its neck like a necklace.

"Get out of here, stray dog," he said aloud.

As Sr. Souza arrived at his apartment, his wife Ana greeted him at the door.

"Welcome home, dear. I have some news to tell you," said Ana with a concerned look on her face.

"What's going on?" asked Sr. Souza, sensing the worry in her voice.

" They've taken over key government buildings and arrested political figures," explained Ana.

Sr. Souza's expression immediately darkened. "I was afraid this would happen," he muttered. "The military ? or they ?."

"The military, but they claim that they are acting to restore order and defend democracy," replied Ana, trying to see the positive side of the situation.

Ana, you know as well as I do that the military's actions are a threat to democracy. They could start chasing "them", his voice firm.

But we're not like "them" protested Ana.

"I know that, but your brother in law was one. If they find out about him, they could use it against us," explained Sr. Souza.

Ana's face turned pale. "You're right"

Sr. Souza nodded in agreement. "We need to be careful and keep a low profile. This is a dangerous time for everyone, especially for those who are different."

As she expected, Mrs. souza looked shocked and annoyed. After all, they usually pretended she didn't have a sister.

"No," she replied curtly.

"Well, I thought maybe it had something to do with... you know... her people,"

"Their daughter would be about pedro's age now, wouldn't she?" he added.

"I suppose so," said Mrs. souza stiffly.

"What is her name again? Maria, isn't it?"

"Madil. A nasty name, and no one would think it was Portuguese."

She didn't say another word about the matter on their way to the kitchen. While Mrs. Souza was washing dishes, Mr. Souza crept to the window and peered down at the square. The dog was still there, staring up at him as though it was waiting for its owner.

The Souzas went to sleep, trying to reassure themselves. He whispered softly, "we couldn't get involved with anything that's happening, darling. This won't affect us...". How wrong he was.

Mr. Souza may have been able to fall asleep, but the caramel dog in the square was not at all tired, with his eyes fixed on the corner apartment. In fact, it was almost midnight when the dog got up and moved. A woman appeared at the corner the dog had been watching. She appeared so sudden and silently that one could think she had condensed from the humidity in the air. The dog moved slightly and barked once with his eyes fixed on her. No one had ever seen anything like that woman in the liberty square. She was short, chubby, and very old, judging by the silver of her curly mushroom-shaped hair, tied with a golden scarf. She wore long robes, a yellow cape that dragged on the ground, and boots with high heels and leather buckles. Her golden eyes were clear, bright, and sparkling behind her round glasses and her nose looked like a croquette. Her name was Benedita Dourado, and she didn't seem to be aware that she had ended up in a street where everything, from her name to her boots, was considered strange. She was looking for something and suddenly, her faithful friend came running towards her. For some reason, the sight of the dog seemed to amuse her.

She chuckled and murmured, "There you are."

The dog jumped in her direction, revealing its true form. "Good evening, Curupira. Thank you for watching this apartment all day. How are you feeling, my dear friend?"

Curipira, a very intelligent mystical creature that, in his original form, looked like a red-haired boy with his feet turned backwards, replied, "A little tired, professor. I would eat a cheese bread." The teacher laughed and made a cheese bread appear in front of her as a reward for a job well done.

"Professor, why did you ask me to watch this house all day? They don't seem to be in danger. It's a completely 'Muggle' family," said Curupira.

"What they're saying is that on this morning, Malvina appeared in Brasília accompanied by Generals Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, Artur da Costa e Silva, and Emílio Garrastazu Médici, and they deposed the elected president João Goulart. But not only, the rumor is that the parents of a little witch were also assassinated by Malvina personally in Copacabana, leaving our little witch orphan and in this apartment lives her only family. but dont worry my friend said Professor Dourado firmly. "Her aunts and uncles will be able to explain everything to her when she's older."

Curupira was no longer listening; he was eating his cheese bread and asked permission to return to the forest. The teacher confirmed with a smile and watched Curupira turn into a blue macaw and disappear into the air. Suddenly, all the lights in the square went out, leaving everything in complete darkness. Gradually, a strong wind began to blow, shaking the trees and causing some objects to fly through the air. A whirlwind began to form right in the center of the square, spinning faster and faster. It was a whirlwind unlike anything anyone had ever seen. It seemed to have a life of its own, and in its center was a small, agile figure with a red cap on its head and one leg. It was Saci, who was carrying little Madil, in his arms. As the whirlwind spun, Saci jumped from side to side, seeming to enjoy the situation. Madil, on the other hand, slept, clinging to the neck.

Gradually, the wind calmed down, and the whirlwind dissipated. The lights in the square came back on, illuminating the scene. The Saci disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving Madil on the ground, safe.

Dourado caught Madil in her arms and turned towards the Souza's house. She bowed her head to Madil and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Then, without warning, she apparated inside the Souza's apartment and placed Madil comfortably on the couch with a letter for the Souzas.

- "Good luck, Madil," she murmured. She spun on her heels and, with a movement of hers cape, disappeared.