Ratnik (Likho station)

Appearance: Dark hair, curtain bangs, bangs and front strands dyed lavender; brown eyes; slightly shorter than Yura (about 165 cm). Romantic interest: Egor.

Character: Introversion and social passivity. Yana feels like an outsider in the familiar world and has few close friends. She spends much time alone, immersed in her creative work—painting (including the painting "The Knowing One," which depicts a field and a man with ears of grain sprouting through his wounds).

Indecision at the beginning of the journey. When Yana finds herself in the Good World, she's confused, doesn't understand what's happening, and initially doesn't know how to act. It takes her time to adapt to the chaos and danger.

The capacity for inner growth. As the story progresses, Yana overcomes her insecurities. She learns to take responsibility, demonstrate courage, and be resourceful in order to survive and protect those she cares about.

Emotional vulnerability. Yana experiences intense emotions: for example, she experiences complex feelings for one of her companions (Egor, who is actually a Znat).

Connection to creativity. Her artistic practice is directly linked to the plot: the painting "The Knowing One" turns out to be not just a work of art, but a key to unraveling her fate and the events in the Ladny World.

Appearance: Brown eyes; mid-neck hair pulled back into a ponytail or something similar to a braid; good-looking, but usually wears a bulletproof vest, a balaclava that covers half his face, and a helmet, so his face is barely visible.

Character: Modesty and unpretentiousness. He himself repeatedly emphasizes: "I'm a simple man; I don't need much." His position as a security guard is sufficient for him—he doesn't seek power or grandiose achievements.

Touchiness and a tendency toward reflection. He harbors old ambitions: a desire to join the Guard, resentment toward his superiors, and the way his partner treated him. However, these feelings flare up quickly and fade just as quickly—he's not a revolutionary by nature.

Naivety and an inability to immediately recognize danger. When the phantom approaches him with an offer to "change this world," Gavrila initially doesn't understand what it means. He genuinely doesn't see what he's guarding (in an empty warehouse), though he senses someone else's ill will.

A gradual loss of self under the influence of others. Under the influence of the phantom (which transmits someone else's pain, fear, and rage), Gavrila begins to change. He ceases to be a mere observer: a desire to "change the world" awakens within him. At some point, he is ready to take risks to turn the "Wheel" for the entire world, not just for one person.

Fear and an attempt at resistance. At the climax, Gavrila realizes what he's dealing with: this is Likho—the greatest evil of old fairy tales, from which there's no escape. He recalls his wives' tales and tries to resist, but the phantom's influence proves stronger.

Appearance: A raven, the size of an eagle, with horns on its head. This is Nora's eternal companion.

Character: Charisma and atmosphere. Many readers note that this character is immediately memorable and adds a special flavor to the story.

Vivacity and emotion. Unlike some other characters, the raven has clear motives and internal conflict.

Attachment. Despite his frightening appearance and sometimes cruel behavior, the raven becomes attached to Nora and genuinely wants to help her.

Appearance: Storm-gray eyes; brunette, plus or minus long thick hair; tall (about 174 cm); fairly slender. Romantic interest: Yana.

Character: Responsibility and a sense of duty. Egor is a man of his word. He takes responsibility for his actions and decisions, even when doing so entails enormous risk. For example, he proposes a specific course of action in a dangerous situation, citing the need to change cover due to an approaching threat.

Decisiveness and the ability to make quick decisions. In critical moments, Yegor acts without hesitation. For example, he immediately suggests leaving home and returning to the city when the group encountered danger in the form of an auki creature.

A complex past and internal conflicts. Egor has a difficult past, marked by loss and pain. This has shaped his character: he can be withdrawn, cynical, or, conversely, capable of deep feelings. These internal conflicts often influence his actions and relationships with others.

Courage bordering on recklessness. Despite his caution, Yegor sometimes takes risks, driven by a desire to prove his worth or overcome a personal tragedy. This makes him both a hero and a tragic figure.

A capacity for compassion and caring. There are moments in the story where Yegor shows concern for other members of the group. For example, he supports Foma, helping him get up after a severe fright.

Appearance: Tall (about 180 cm); strong, broad-shouldered, a little fat; green eyes; dark short hair; dark beard down to the collarbones. He has an axe on his belt, which he uses both for everyday life and as a weapon.

Character: Decisiveness and even rudeness. At the beginning of the story, Foma behaves quite harshly. For example, he can abruptly rebuke his interlocutor, as in the dialogue with the Noble, when he demands to know what happened to the city. However, this bravado often conceals confusion and an inability to immediately grasp the scale of the threat.

Emotional vulnerability. Despite his tough exterior, Foma has vulnerabilities. When people start calling his name in the forest ("LUBA!"), he loses his composure: he runs out of the house in panic, and his friend barely manages to stop him. This shows that beneath his veneer of cynicism lies affection (perhaps for someone close) and a fear of loss.

Internal conflict and denial. Foma refuses to believe in the existence of the monster Likho for a long time, dismissing it as a fairy tale. His voice breaks when the Nobleman reveals the nature of the disaster—this is the moment when he breaks through his own disbelief and attempts to maintain a rational worldview.

A troubled past. There's a detail in the text that explains much about his character: Foma looks as if life has "run all over him." This hints at trauma, loss, or a difficult life situation that has shaped his worldview and made him more cautious and withdrawn.

Appearance: Brown hair; brown eyes; not very tall (about 169); pleasant face.

Character: Sarcastic and ironic, Yura often makes caustic remarks to others, as evident in his conversations with Yana. He doesn't take things seriously and enjoys teasing.

Emotionally unstable. In tense situations, Yura's mood and behavior can change dramatically: from cheerful and relaxed, he switches to impulsive, sometimes aggressive behavior. For example, when fleeing danger, he throws an object with great force because he can't stand its proximity.

Belonging to the resistance. Yura is part of a group fighting against the "new government" in the Ladny World. This speaks to his courage, sense of duty, and desire to change things, despite the resistance's unclear goals and lack of clear leadership.

A tendency toward introspection and reflection. In some scenes, it's noticeable that Yura is pondering what's happening, trying to understand his motives and his own.