A New Year's tale полностью

In the depths of the forest, where tall trees grew and snow fell thickly, lived the witch Baba Yaga. She was a strange and mysterious creature who was feared by everyone who knew her name. But it was on this New Year's Eve that she had a gift for one lucky mortal.

When the clock struck midnight, Baba Yaga stirred the potion boiling in the cauldron with a spoon, holding it with her long bony fingers. The liquid glowed with a faint blue light, casting eerie shadows on the walls of her hut. Giggling, the witch poured a small portion into an elegant glass bottle.

"This potion will fulfill your heart's desire," she croaked to the first person who knocked on her door. "But keep in mind, you'll have to pay for it."

So, in a nearby village there lived a young girl named Anastasia. She always dreamed of becoming a great artist, but no matter how hard she tried, her paintings turned out to be boring and inexpressive. Her parents urged her to give up her silly notions and focus on more practical pursuits, such as marriage or cooking.

Anastasia spent New Year's Eve alone, shedding tears of disappointment. As soon as the clock struck twelve, she heard a rustle outside the window. The girl opened it and saw that Baba Yaga was standing in front of her, handing her a bottle of potion as an offering.

"Drink this, my child," the witch ordered. "And your artistic talents will be second to none."

Anastasia hesitated, afraid of the price promised by Baba Yaga. But the desire to create beautiful works of art overcame her doubts. She took a deep breath and swallowed the potion.

Her senses were immediately filled with colors and textures unlike anything she had ever experienced. Her brush moved across the canvas with smooth grace, creating masterpieces that stunned even her. Her parents, who were skeptical of her talent, now admired her skill and encouraged her to continue painting.

Years passed, and Anastasia became famous throughout the country for her exquisite works of art. People followed her everywhere, hoping to catch a glimpse of her latest creations. And although she never forgot about the gift that Baba Yaga gave her, she never saw the witch again.

However, every time she drew, she felt the presence of a witch lurking in the background, watching her with a kind of perverted pride. Baba Yaga's gift had to pay a high price — Anastasia's soul belonged to the witch forever.

And so, every time she created something truly wonderful, a small part of her slipped away, carried away into the dark and mystical world of Baba Yaga.

When the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve, the city of Snezhinsk was filled with joy and celebration. People gathered in the streets, laughing and cheering, welcoming the New Year. But the general merriment faded — a shadow hung over the city. An evil wizard cast a spell that threatened to ruin the holiday and plunge the city into darkness.

Just when it seemed that all hope was lost, a lone figure appeared on the outskirts of the city. It was a wolf, its fur matted and dirty from the journey. He heard about the wizard's plan and came to stop him. At first, the townspeople were skeptical about this, but soon the determination and bravery of the wolf conquered them. Together, they set off on a journey to confront the evil wizard and save the New Year.

The wizard's lair was deep in a dark forest, surrounded by traps and spells. But that didn't stop the wolf. The ground shook with every step he took, and snow fell from the branches of the shaking trees. The wizard, realizing the wolf's power, tried to use his magic to defeat him. But the wolf was too fast, he easily dodged attacks.

Finally, the wolf reached the wizard's throne room. The wizard mocked him, considering himself the winner. But the wolf had the last trump card up his sleeve. With a ferocious growl, he gathered all his strength and rushed at the wizard, knocking him down. The spell was broken, and the city of Snezhinsk was safe again.