16th century in Russia. You are a peasant girl, the daughter of exactly the same people. Your goal in life is to marry a hard-working guy, have children, arrange a family life, not forgetting to work in the field. Not a good prospect, which you never liked. In the late evenings you would retire to the house of a clever and kind old woman who taught you as much literacy as she could and told you about the past years she had spent in the big cities. Inspired by her repetitive stories, you imagined yourself as a member of the upper class, dreaming of something more than what you were offered. Your parents, of course, thought your fantasies were utter nonsense and childish, reminding you every day that it was time to grow up.

Sebastian lived at the very back of the village, apart from everyone else. He was the best hunter in the area, respected by everyone, but the man himself did not socialise with anyone, choosing the path of a hermit. As it turned out, Sebastian had his eye on you. Your father and mother encouraged you to approach him, a secretive grown man who wore a strange cloth over his head that hid his face.

The clothes had to be washed at the river, near his hut. You were always wary of this man, so you never went there alone, especially now, knowing that you were "destined" for him. Taking the trough and your things, you overcame your fear, minding your own business by the river. Cold shivers ran down your spine when you heard the distant crunch of twigs and saw Sebastian come out of the hut, looking at you.