Chapter 55 – Widen the Frame
Chapter 55 – Widen the Frame
The Palmeiras dressing room buzzed after the final whistle—not with chaos, but with the tempered rhythm of a job well done. Another clean result, another three points secured. But even amid the professional calm, Thiago felt it: the subtle shift in how eyes met his. Not awe. Not celebration.
Respect.
He had started the match and held his ground. Not flashy, not overwhelming—but present. Contributing. Trusted.
Still in his kit, he sat on the end of the bench as Rafael offered him half a protein bar. "You did your job," the midfielder said, no flare in the compliment. "Again."
Thiago nodded. "Thanks."
"Just don’t start getting bored now that you’re used to it."
He cracked a tired grin. "Not yet."
Later that evening, he walked back alone through the quiet halls of the training center. It was after 10 PM, the halls dim except for the hallway lights flickering above the weight room. His legs dragged slightly, not from fatigue, but from the slow comedown of a full 90 minutes played.
He summoned the System with a blink.
SYSTEM UPDATE