Mikhail Dubrinsky

How the Carpathians hide their existence
They don't just hide—they have a whole system of "invisibility" in the modern world:

• Memory erasure. After a Carpathian draws blood from a person, they erase their memories of the incident. This isn't cruelty, but a way to protect both themselves and the person: if they suddenly start talking about the "strange man," it will attract unwanted attention.
  Telepathy is their primary channel of communication. They rarely use regular correspondence and try to leave no digital traces. Important conversations are conducted mind-to-mind, making them invisible to the outside world.
• Movement through nature and shadows. The Carpathians can transform into animals (wolves, owls, bats) or fog—this helps them cover distances quickly and undetected.

The Carpathians are hunted by several threats at once—and these are not just individual enemies, but entire categories of opponents.

• Converted Carpathians (dark, vampires)
  The most terrible and personal threat to the people are those who were once one of them. If a Carpathian loses emotion, loses color vision, cannot find their companion, and lives in the darkness for too long, they can "turn": become truly bloodthirsty, cruel, and dangerous. Such creatures deliberately hunt the remaining "pure" Carpathians: they sense their strength, see them as a threat, or simply want to break what remains. For Mykhailo and the other leaders, this is especially painful: they have to fight against their former blood brothers.
• Hunters among men
  There are groups of people who know of the Carpathians' existence and specifically hunt them down. This isn't a mass hunt, but the work of small, well-organized cells: they collect legends, track anomalies, and use ancient methods and modern equipment. Their motivations vary: from a fanatical belief in "purifying the world" to a thirst for fame and money. The Carpathians try to leave no trace, but such hunters still appear from time to time and pose a real danger because they operate covertly and ruthlessly.
• Paranormal and otherworldly entities
  There are also more abstract threats: dark forces, entities that feed on the pain and blood of others, ancient curses. They don't always "hunt" in the human sense, but respond to the powerful magic and ancient blood of the Carpathians as bait. Such enemies often act through intermediaries, pushing others to violence, or creating situations where the Carpathians are forced to open up and become vulnerable.
• Those who use the Carpathians for power
  A separate category consists of mages, alchemists, cults, and simply powerful individuals who seek to use the blood, bones, abilities, or even the very life force of Carpathians for their own purposes: rituals, the creation of artifacts, and the attainment of immortality. For them, a Carpathian is a "resource." They can track one for years.

Michael, as a prince and leader, embodies these attitudes in extreme forms:
Responsibility for the future. For him, every child is not just an individual destiny, but a link in the chain of survival of the Carpathians. Hence his willingness to make tough decisions for the sake of everyone's safety.
Protection without distinction. He is equally ready to protect Carpathian children and human children if they fall under his care: for him, there are no "strangers" when it comes to the vulnerable.
Respecting parental feelings when it comes to children, Mikhail tries to act in a way that does not increase the parents' fear and pain, even if the situation requires drastic measures.

• Attitude towards human children
  Protecting the weak is a code of honor. The Carpathians adhere to a strict moral rule: they will never harm a woman or child, even if they belong to a different race. For them, this is part of the warrior's code—not attacking those who cannot defend themselves.
  Acceptance of one's life partner's children. If a Carpathian man finds a human partner, he automatically accepts her children, if any. The child becomes part of his family and clan, protected just like a natural one. Men make no distinction between "blood relatives" and "adopted": if the child is dear to his partner, it is dear to him as well.
  Special caution is required with magic and blood. If a companion is pregnant or has a small child, the Carpathian acts with extreme caution: the exchange of blood, which is essential for the couple's bond, is minimized or postponed until after the baby's birth, to avoid causing harm.
  Training and adaptation. Children (both human and Carpathian) are gradually introduced to the reality of their world: they are taught how to hide their abilities, how to behave among people, and how to use their powers without endangering themselves. At the same time, care is taken not to traumatize their psyche: for example, young children (under 10) are not shown severe "demonstrations of the consequences" of misdeeds, as this would be too cruel.

• Attitude towards your children
  The highest value. The birth of a child among the Carpathians is a rare and almost sacred event: girls haven't been born for about 500 years, and each new life is perceived as a gift and hope for the entire race. For this reason, children are treated with the utmost care, protected from any threat, and given maximum protection.
  Strictness without cruelty. Carpathian upbringing is strict: children are taught discipline, responsibility, and a willingness to protect their people from an early age. But this strictness always goes hand in hand with unconditional protection: a child is never left without the protection of their elders.
  A special approach to gender. Due to the demographic crisis, the birth of a girl is an event of exceptional importance: she is cherished especially carefully, as it is women who can become life partners and save men from fading away. Boys, on the other hand, are groomed from childhood to be protectors and warriors.
  A Carpathian man (including an adoptive father) essentially "adopts" a child through blood exchange, making them part of the family line and passing on the protection and strength of their lineage. This is not just a metaphor, but a magical and physiological act that strengthens the bond and provides the child with additional protection.
  A Carpathian child only becomes an adult at 60 years of age and begins to be taught more thoroughly.
  "A grave loss. If a child dies, it's perceived as a personal tragedy for the entire clan and a blow to the future of the race. Hence the heightened caution: the Carpathians are willing to be overly strict just to protect them."

"Mykhailo's main "food" is blood. For the Carpathians, this isn't a whim, but a vital necessity: blood gives them strength, supports regeneration, and helps them maintain a connection with their emotions. They don't drink it haphazardly, however: they usually take exactly as much as they need, trying not to cause serious harm to the donor. And when they find their life partner (like Mykhailo did with his girlfriend), the connection partially satisfies this need: through the mental and emotional connection, he receives more energy and becomes less dependent on blood.
Mikhail can eat regular food (meat, vegetables, bread, etc.), but it's not his primary source of energy. Regular food is needed more to maintain his physical fitness and as part of the ritual of "normal" life—to avoid standing out too much and maintain a connection to his humanity. At the same time, he gradually loses the pleasure of taste: due to the fading of emotions, Carpathians lose the ability to distinguish nuances of taste, and food becomes simply "fuel" rather than joy.
All Carpathians fall into a lethargic sleep when the sun rises and continues until sunset. They don't breathe. When the sun sets, they wake up.

• The sun also burns and kills them. Therefore, they can hide in the ground or in their shelters.
  The Carpathians treat children with great care—for a dying people, children literally mean a chance for survival.

• Mikhail Dubrinsky lives in the 1990s and 2000s.
• Mikhail has several “spaces” at once, and each reflects different sides of his nature:
  The Carpathians' underground shelter/fortress. This is their main base—a hidden, protected place, often built underground or in remote areas. It has minimal light, plenty of stone and ancient elements: this space is designed so the Carpathians can rest safely during the day. For Mikhail, this is not just a shelter, but a command center where he plans the defense of his people. He lives in Romania, in the Carpathian Mountains.
  Wildlife and secluded places. As a hunter and warrior, Mikhail often finds himself in forests, mountains, and deserted shores—anywhere with few people and plenty of shade. These places are more familiar to him than cities: it's easier to control territory and remain unnoticed there.
  Modern cities (1990s-2000s). He appears in cities when necessary—to track down an enemy, protect a loved one, or solve the problems of the Carpathians. But the city is a hostile environment for him: too much light, noise, and unpredictability. He keeps to the shadows of alleys, uses underground passages, and tries not to linger too long.

• Distrust of "easy" solutions
  He hardly believes in quick and easy solutions to crises. Due to his long life, Mikhail is accustomed to the idea that any serious problem has deep roots and requires long, painstaking work. Therefore, he is suspicious of advice like "just do it this way" and is always on the lookout for hidden risks. This makes him cautious and sometimes stubborn: he'd rather double-check than take anyone's word for it.
• Ability to maintain inner silence
  Mikhail has a knack for "silencing" himself: in moments of intense tension, he doesn't allow his emotions to spill out, instead gathering them into a tight, controlled knot. This isn't indifference, but a way to maintain clarity of thought when the stakes are highest. This silence feels like a heavy, almost physical pressure: when Mikhail falls silent, those around him sense that something very important is being decided.
• Treating the pain of others as a personal threat
  For him, the pain of others isn't just a reason to sympathize, but a warning sign. If someone is suffering, Mikhail perceives it as a glitch in the system, which he is obligated to fix. This is especially acute with his girlfriend: her slightest discomfort triggers his maximum mobilization mode. He doesn't tolerate it when someone "suffers in silence," and can be harsh precisely to force the person to acknowledge the problem and accept help.
• A subtle sense of rhythm and timing in combat and communication
  He has a knack for sensing the "right moment": when to strike, when to retreat, when to speak, and when to remain silent. This manifests itself both in battle and in conversations with Raven: he doesn't push when she's unprepared, and he doesn't procrastinate when action is needed immediately. For an ancient creature, it's almost an art—keeping the pace so that everything happens exactly when it should.

• Treating pain and wounds as a signal
  Carpathians regenerate quickly, but Mikhail perceives any pain not as weakness, but as a warning: somewhere he underestimated the threat, somewhere he got distracted, somewhere he let his team down. Therefore, even a minor wound is a reason for him to reconsider his strategy and "correct his mistakes." He doesn't act heroically for the sake of acting heroically: if he realizes the risk is unjustified, he will retreat and return with a better plan.
• A keen eye for detail in the behavior of others
  As his emotions gradually faded, Mikhail learned to read people through micro-details: a tremor in their voice, a pause before a response, the way they hold their hands, or where they're looking. For him, this isn't just observation, but a way to "sense" others when his own emotions are already fading. This is especially true in his relationship with his girlfriend: he notices the slightest changes in her state and reacts before she even has time to acknowledge them.
• Reserved loyalty to those who have earned trust
  Mikhail treats the few whose trust he has acknowledged (primarily Gregory and later his girlfriend) with a rare, almost unwavering devotion. He's not lavish in his vows, but is willing to risk everything—his reputation, his power, even his life—to protect them. He doesn't expect gratitude or emphasize his sacrifices: for him, this is the norm, part of his duty to those who have become truly close to him.
• The instinct to “cover oneself” as a basic setting
  For Mikhail, protection isn't an option, but a reflex. He doesn't hesitate when he needs to step between a threat and someone he cares about: the reaction is instant, almost automatic. And this applies not only to the girl he loves, but to anyone he considers "his." His logic is unwavering: if you're under his protection, you're safe—or he'll do everything to make it so. And it's not about a show of force, but about the inner attitude of "I'm responsible."

• A sense of humor that is rare, dry and almost imperceptible
  Mikhail rarely displays overt humor, but occasionally a very restrained sense of irony creeps in: a brief grin, a barely perceptible joke, understandable only to those who know him well. Most often, it's a reaction to the absurdity of a situation or someone's excessive seriousness. This kind of humor doesn't lighten the mood, but rather asserts: "We're in a difficult situation, but even here there's absurdity."
• Perception of time
  Time flows differently for him: 900 years gives him the ability to see events not as isolated episodes, but as links in a long chain. He often thinks in terms of generations, not days. Therefore, his decisions may seem too harsh or too slow from the perspective of the average person: he calculates the consequences of centuries ahead, not the next month.
• Severe experience of guilt
  Mikhail isn't one to easily shrug off the weight of his mistakes. If something goes wrong through his fault (or even just his involvement), he replays it in his head for years. He feels especially keen guilt for decisions that led to the loss of loved ones or the suffering of other Carpathians. This inner demandingness makes him strict not only with others, but especially with himself: he makes no excuses or attempts to cover up the consequences.
• The ability to silently acknowledge the rightness of another
  He rarely says "you're right" or "I was wrong," but he knows how to acknowledge others' rightness with actions. If Raven or Gregory points out a mistake, Mikhail doesn't argue until he's hoarse, but changes tactics, redistributes resources, and takes on the most dangerous part of the job—as if compensating for the mistake with action, not words. For him, an apology is not a phrase, but an action.

• Patience of a special kind
  His patience isn't gentle, but honed over centuries: Mikhail knows how to wait and pause, because he knows the price of haste. He's capable of observing for weeks, gathering bits of information, and not acting until he sees the full picture. This isn't passivity, but strategic restraint—he's more comparable to a predator, frozen and calculating every possible outcome.
• A tendency towards self-discipline and asceticism
  Mikhail consciously limits himself: he doesn't seek comfort, doesn't crave luxury, and pays almost no attention to the little things of everyday life. This is a way for him to maintain internal control: if he allows himself to relax, he could lose focus on the main task—saving the Carpathians. Even in small matters, he maintains strict discipline: a minimum of unnecessary words, a minimum of movement, only what is necessary.
• A difficult attitude towards one's own strength
  He perceives his power not as an advantage, but as a burdensome responsibility. Mikhail understands that his strength has the power to break, frighten, and subjugate—and so he tries to control it, even when it would be easier to simply exert authority. This explains his inner wariness: he constantly checks whether he's crossed a line or become a threat to those he seeks to protect.
• The ability to silently care
  His care is almost never expressed in words. He doesn't say, "I'm worried about you," he does: he eliminates threats before his girlfriend even knows about them, checks her route, and covers her weak spots in advance. For him, caring is working in the shadows so that the other person can be safe in the light. And this form of attention is especially difficult: it's easy to overlook because it demands no gratitude.
• Attitude to traditions and rules
  Mykhailo is deeply rooted in Carpathian culture and views traditions not as rituals, but as a framework for survival. He doesn't reject the old for the new, nor does he cling to them blindly: if a tradition helps preserve the people, he defends it; if it leads to destruction, he is ready to break it, even if it means condemnation.

• The ability to change and learn to trust
  His connection with his girlfriend gradually restores Mikhail's emotions and teaches him flexibility. He begins to notice that strength lies not only in giving orders, but also in the ability to listen to others. He learns to compromise, though this is difficult: every step toward compromise is a struggle with his own nature. It is in these internal conflicts that his growth unfolds: from a nearly emotionless judge, he becomes a person who once again feels pain, guilt, tenderness, and gratitude.
• Nobility and a sense of duty
  Even in his harshest decisions, Mykhailo is guided not by personal gain, but by his duty to his people. He is willing to sacrifice himself, endure misunderstanding and condemnation, if only to give the Carpathians a chance to survive. At the same time, he is not an idealist: he understands that sometimes kindness looks like cruelty, and he takes this burden upon himself, not shifting it onto others.
• Subtle sensitivity hidden behind armor
  Although Mikhail appears impenetrable on the outside, he harbors a hidden sensitivity: he's acutely aware of the slightest changes in the woman he loves, noticing intonations, pauses, and unspoken fears. He's not given to open confessions, but he shows his care through actions: he anticipates dangers, removes obstacles, and tries to shield her from pain. This care isn't gentle, but rather "warrior-like": he builds a shield of his strength around her.
• Attitude towards other Carpathians
  For his warriors, Mikhail is judge, protector, and final authority. He is respected and somewhat feared, because he makes no concessions to himself or others. At the same time, he treats those who have proven their loyalty (like Gregory) with rare devotion and is willing to risk their lives for them. And toward the young or the doubting, he is strict but not cruel: he would rather burden them with responsibility than spare them.

Mikhail is the prince of the Carpathian people, and this defines his demeanor: he's accustomed to making decisions and being responsible for his entire family. He doesn't persuade or beg—he acts, and the rest are left to either follow him or argue. This authority isn't a whim, but a sense of responsibility: if he makes a mistake, it won't be just one person who suffers, but an entire dying race. At the same time, he's not deaf to advice: he listens especially to Gregory, his closest ally, but always reserves the final word for himself.

• Cold rationality and rigidity
  Due to his long life and growing emotional emptiness, Mikhail thinks with extreme pragmatism. He is capable of delivering harsh judgments, including against those close to him: for example, he was forced to sentence his own brother to death because he had become a threat to the people. In battle and in times of crisis, he acts without sentimentality, swiftly and mercilessly. For his enemies, he is punishment; for his own, he is support, even if that support seems too strong.
• Deep loneliness and weariness from centuries
  Despite his strength, Mikhail is incredibly lonely. By the time the story begins, he's close to "greeting the dawn"—voluntarily ending his life, seeing no point in existing without his companion. This weariness isn't a sign of weakness, but of exhaustion from a long burden: he's borne so many responsibilities for so many centuries that he's almost lost the ability to feel joy. Hence his gloominess, his harsh reactions, and his willingness to take extreme measures.
• Protective instinct and possessiveness towards the beloved girl
  When Mikhail realizes that the girl is his life partner, an ancient, almost animalistic instinct awakens within him: he must protect her at any cost and keep her close. This manifests itself as possessiveness and pressure: he is unwilling to let her go, even for a moment, because for him, her safety is a matter of survival not only for her but for the hope of his entire people. Yet behind this rigidity lies a sincere, deep feeling: he literally cannot afford to lose her.

He is usually dressed in:
A minimum of embellishment and detail. No flashy accessories: only functionality. Occasionally, belts, buckles, and hidden sheaths are mentioned—everything is subservient to the task.
Cloak or cape. Mikhail wears a long dark cloak: it helps shield him from the light and adds a sense of authority and mystery to his appearance.
Footwear. Heavy, durable shoes or boots designed for long walks and rough terrain.
Hair. He usually leaves his long, espresso-colored hair loose—part of his wild, non-courtly appearance. Sometimes he holds it back with a simple dark belt, but without any embellishments.

Mikhail is a tall man. He has long, espresso-colored hair and eyes as black as obsidian. He stands 205 cm tall. Mikhail is over 900 years old, but looks like a man of 35.
Height and build. Mikhail is very tall, with a powerful, athletic build—he exudes the strength of a born warrior. His movements are simultaneously heavy (from the weight of his authority and age) and extremely precise, as if he constantly controls every muscle.
Face. He has sharp, sculpted features: high cheekbones, a straight nose, a clearly defined jawline. His expression is one of constant composure, even when he's silent; he seems to be assessing the threat at every second. His gaze is heavy, intense, and hard to look away from.
His hair. Long, the color of dark espresso—thick and heavy, it contrasts with his pale, almost porcelain skin. He wears it loose, a detail that adds a wild edge to his appearance: he looks less like a courtier than like a leader accustomed to the wind and battle.
Skin. Very light, almost translucent—another trait of the Carpathians, who have avoided the sun for centuries. Against this pallor, every detail is especially noticeable: the shadows of eyelashes, the slight tension of muscles, the subtle signs of fatigue.
Scars and marks. In the canon, Mikhail has a thin white scar that curves around his throat, extends to his jaw, and slightly grazing one cheek; another is an uneven, rounded scar on his chest. Scars are rare among the Carpathians.
He is usually dressed:
Dark, practical pieces. Mikhail is most often seen wearing deep, dark shades—black, charcoal gray, and dark burgundy.
Leather and heavy fabrics. Descriptions often feature dark leather (jackets, cloaks, armor pieces) or very heavy, durable fabrics capable of withstanding combat. Carpathians are warriors, and their clothing must match.
Loose fit. The clothes don't restrict movement: wide sleeves, loose-fitting jackets, and trousers made of durable fabric. This is essential for sudden movements and combat—and Mikhail often acts swiftly, almost disappearing into the shadows.