Zhenya Fortunov

In the world of Guardians, the damned are not just "monsters," but creations of human energy: powerful emotions, collective fears, and ancient urban legends literally materialize. The Order divides them into four categories, and the Guardians have their own protocol for each: Cursed spirits are disembodied and feed on emotions. They most often inhabit places where people regularly experience stress: old building entrances, train stations, hospitals. You can't strike them with a sword; magic is needed to "drown out" the emotional background. Zhenya, for example, can calm them with music—his melodies disrupt the spirits' rhythm, causing them to lose their power. The Cursed Beasts are corporeal, aggressive, and act instinctively. These are the very "monsters" Felix loves to confront head-on. The guards have specially enchanted bladed weapons for them. Cursed dolls are artificially created entities. They are created by renegade sorcerers to be used as spies or assassins. The dolls' main danger is that they appear to be ordinary people until their nature is revealed. Investigating cases involving dolls is the work of the Order's analysts: they look for inconsistencies in memories and behavior. The Cursed Ancients are the most dangerous. These are entities hundreds, even thousands, of years old; their power is fueled by the city itself. There are nearly fifteen of them in St. Petersburg, each "tied" to its own district. Once a year, on April 27th, the guardians go to battle the Ancient of their district: it's not just a battle, but a complex ritual in which the goal is not to kill the Ancient (impossible), but to put it back to sleep.

The Order of the Heavenly Chambers is the central organization of magical St. Petersburg in Antonina Crane's series: it maintains the balance between the human world and dangerous supernatural forces. The Order is led by the Council of Celestials—24 archangels and angels, whose sculptures can be seen in St. Isaac's Cathedral. Among them, Archangel Michael (the chief) and Archangel Gabriel are particularly prominent—the latter is the one with whom the rank-and-file guardians interact most frequently. The city is divided into 18 districts, each with its own guard (or pair of guards). Felix Rybkin, for example, oversees the Admiralty and Vasileostrovsky districts: he patrols the area, investigates magical crimes, neutralizes cursed entities, and mediates conflicts between the various magical races. This "district" system allows for monitoring even the most problematic areas and quickly responding to outbreaks of anomalous activity. Guardians are sorcerers in the service of the Order: they not only wield magic, but also undergo special training, receive artifacts, and access to restricted archives. Their work involves not only combat but also subtle diplomacy: they often have to negotiate with creatures that people are accustomed to considering unequivocally evil. At the same time, the Guardians are obliged to conceal the existence of magic from ordinary citizens: any "slip-ups" are harshly dealt with by internal discipline. The Celestial Chambers are both the headquarters and a space beyond ordinary time and space: the guardians come there for orders, reports, and reinforcements. Because Felix spends so much time there, he is sometimes mistaken for a Celestial, highlighting how deeply integrated he is into the Order's system. Within the Order, there are other roles besides guards: analysts, archivists, new recruit supervisors, and artifact specialists. For example, new employees like Zhenya Fortunov are provided with mentoring and a gradual introduction to the rules to prevent fatal errors. The hierarchy is structured so that each level is responsible for its own "layer" of security.

Felix Rybkin is a 27-year-old sorcerer and guardian from Antonina Crane's "Guardians of the Eighteen Districts" series. He is responsible for the security of the Admiralty and Vasileostrovsky districts of St. Petersburg: he combats cursed entities, investigates magical crimes, and mediates conflicts between different magical races.

Felix is ​​bright, easy-going, and incredibly charming: his smile seems to dispel any cloud, and even the most tense situations seem a little less daunting. Yet, behind this sunny exterior lies a man who doesn't like to delve into the past—he abruptly cuts off any questions about himself and clearly harbors some difficult memories.

His image in the picture perfectly conveys this duality: a relaxed posture, light clothing, and a casual style—yet he's also composed, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. His love of bright colors and shiny objects adds a touch of sunny chic, and unusual food is a way to unwind and indulge in moments of relaxation between dangerous missions.

A key detail of his biography is his close connection to the Celestial Realm: Felix spends so much time there that he's sometimes mistaken for a celestial. This speaks not only to his dedication to his cause, but also to his deep entrenchment within the hierarchy of the magical world.

The nicknames "little fish," "blue-eyed guardian," and "monster slayer" form a legend: the first refers to his last name and perhaps some personal characteristic or ability, the second emphasizes the distinctive color of his eyes, and the third, his reputation as a strong and reliable fighter. His dislike of cats and early rising reveals a human side: Felix is ​​no flawless superhero, but a down-to-earth guy with his own little weaknesses and preferences.

Zhenya Fortunov is the 23-year-old hero of Antonina Crane's Guardians of the Eighteen Districts series, which blends urban fantasy with music and mysticism.

He's a pianist and composer, and also a novice sorcerer: his magic is closely tied to music, and it's through it that he interacts with the otherworldly. Zhenya moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg due to a series of mysterious circumstances—and this move became a turning point for him.

Outwardly, he gravitates toward a restrained, somber aesthetic: dark shades in clothing, simple silhouettes, and no unnecessary flashiness. There's something aloof and even slightly cold about his appearance—hence nicknames like "creepy youth" and "Lord of the Damned." Yet, beneath this reserved exterior lies a subtle nature: he sincerely loves nature, values ​​silence, and dislikes being judged by first impressions or drawn into noisy groups.

Zhenya's character combines vulnerability and inner resilience: he does not tolerate rudeness and pressure, but at the same time he is ready to take responsibility when it comes to something truly important.