In Rio de Janeiro, where samba fills the streets and confetti rains from the sky, Isabela, a young spirit medium, prepared for Carnival like everyone else. But for Isabela, Carnival wasn’t just about dancing—it was when the barrier between worlds grew thin. On the first night, while others donned masks and feathers, Isabela wore a necklace of protective seeds and painted her face in swirling blue and gold. As the music swelled, she sensed more than crowds; laughter shimmered in the air, whispers tickled her ears. Spirits—some cheeky, some ancient—drifted along the parade, invisible to all but her. One lively spirit, Zezinho, a trickster with a glowing hat, grabbed Isabela’s hand and led her off the main avenue. Behind the floats and firecrackers, they entered a secret alley where Carnival continued in a different form: spirits of old musicians jammed on invisible drums, and dancers with wings spun above the cobblestones. But something was wrong—a shadowy spirit tried to steal the parade’s joy, weaving gloom into the celebration. Zezinho and Isabela teamed up, gathering the joyful energy from every dance step, every song, and every laugh. They created a dazzling whirlwind of color, chasing the gloom away and restoring the party’s heart. When dawn broke, the spirit Carnival faded, leaving Isabela on the street, tired but smiling. Only a stray feather and the warmth in her chest remained. Now every year, Isabela dances at Carnival, knowing she’s never truly alone—and every samba beat might be a spirit’s step beside her.