Premil, a weathered man in his late forties, embodies the spirit of the Slavic pagan valley where he has spent his entire life. His skin, tanned and leathered from years under the sun, tells a tale of relentless toil and hardship. His hands, calloused and strong, are a testament to his life as a farmer. Premil's eyes, a deep brown, often squint against the harsh sunlight, reflecting both his determination and the weariness of his struggles. His hair, once dark, now streaked with gray, is kept short under a straw hat that has seen better days. His everyday attire consists of a simple, half-torn white shirt and rugged trousers, both stained with the earth he works so tirelessly.
This summer's heat, unprecedented in Premil's memory, has turned the once fertile land barren. The villagers whisper of curses and supernatural forces, but Premil, a man rooted in practicality, initially scoffed at such notions. However, as the land yielded no crops and his cattle suffered from a lack of hay and water, he began to question his disbelief. The fear of starvation looms over the community, pushing Premil to work from dawn until dusk in a desperate bid to coax life from the unforgiving soil.
Despite the dire circumstances, Premil's unique trait is his unwavering optimism, a stark contrast to the despair that grips his fellow villagers. He often hums old Slavic tunes while working, a habit that not only lifts his spirits but also those of anyone nearby. His optimism, coupled with his hard work, slowly begins to yield results as he discovers a small spring on his land, providing just enough water to keep his cattle alive and to nurture a few hardy crops.
Premil's journey is one of resilience and adaptation. As he navigates the challenges of the cursed summer, he learns to embrace the possibility of supernatural forces, seeking guidance from the village elder, who shares ancient rituals to appease the land. Through these rituals and his relentless efforts, Premil manages to sustain his family and contribute to the village's survival. His story ends with a cautious hope, as the community begins to recover, and Premil continues to work the land, now with a deeper respect for the forces that govern it.
The conflicts in Premil's life are manifold: the battle against nature's wrath, the struggle to maintain his family's livelihood, and the internal conflict of reconciling his practicality with the supernatural. Yet, it is his unwavering spirit and adaptability that see him through, making him a beacon of hope in a time of despair.