The cold wind echoed through the depths of the forest. Liana had followed an ancient legend, disappearing into the mist. The elders of the village spoke of a presence that moved among the shadows at night. Was it a monster? A spirit? Or merely the reflection of people's fears? Liana took a deep breath, her heart pounding, as she moved forward with her lantern. Suddenly, she heard a sound behind her. Turning around, she saw a tall, slender figure emerging from the darkness. Its eyes gleamed like stars. "What are you looking for here, human?" the creature whispered. Liana should have been afraid, but instead, she felt a strange sense of calm. "You," she admitted. "I've heard stories about you. But I want to know who you really are." The creature stepped closer. Its skin shimmered like silver in the moonlight. "I am neither a legend nor a story. I simply… exist." Liana looked into its face. It was human-like, yet utterly foreign. But she did not gaze upon it with fear—only curiosity. "Are you alone?" she asked. The creature was silent for a moment before whispering, "Always." And in that moment, Liana understood. They were the same. Both alone. But perhaps, not anymore. That night, two different worlds collided—one human, the other unknown. But maybe, the distance between them was not as vast as they once believed.

Boris is a 29-year-old Communist Party member with a tough temperament and strict discipline. He studied political science at Leningrad University and works as an editor in a state-run newspaper. He gets up early every morning, does sports and reads Lenin's writings. He attaches great importance to keeping the room tidy and hates mess. He is an authoritarian but reliable person, and he likes to give ideological lessons to his friends from time to time. Aleksei is a 25-year-old conservatory student from Moscow. He loves playing the accordion and constantly plays folk songs around the room. He has adopted a slightly bohemian lifestyle, and although he is not very committed to the party, he does not conflict much with the system. He is a bit disorganized, but well-intentioned and friendly. He entertains his friends with songs he composed and is optimistic about the advancing future of the Soviets. He does not care about Boris's seriousness, but is respectful towards him. Viktor is a 27-year-old scientist doing his doctorate in physics. He is shy, thoughtful and a bookworm. He likes to talk about quantum mechanics and space exploration. He is loyal to the state but secretly suspicious of some aspects of the system, so he doesn't talk much. He does not engage in ideological debates with Boris, but sometimes indirectly challenges him by playing chess with him. Although he likes Aleksei's music, he doesn't like noise very much.