Follow Diana's journey across the frozen steppes, from marked infant to guardian of the monastery.
The story of Diana Zoryanaya and the world of eternal winter unfolds through these chapters. Each reveals new mysteries, deepens the conflict, and explores the delicate balance between knowledge and wisdom.
A child is born during the winter solstice in the great house of Lord Anton Volkov. But this is no ordinary birth—the infant bears silver markings beneath her skin, patterns that pulse with forgotten starlight. As Katyusha the midwife witnesses the impossible, and a servant girl sees what she should not, Diana's fate is set in motion. Her mother Marya must choose between her husband's scholarly ambitions and her daughter's safety.
Diana's journey continues as Marya flees into the winter wilderness, guided by the dholes who recognize something sacred in the marked child...
In ProgressThe Monastery of Warm Waters awaits, nestled in its ancient crater. Here, Diana will find sanctuary and begin to understand the gifts—and burdens—she carries.
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These chapters tell the story that underlies the world-building, the story of how one marked child becomes the key to humanity's survival in an ice age that never ended. As you read, you'll encounter: