The story of Baba Yaga and Koschei the Immortal, their birth and life. You haven’t heard this story yet

© Ирина Буянова, 2025

ISBN 978-5-0068-4009-6

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

CHAPTER 1

It was a long time ago. My grandmother told me this story, and her grandmother told her grandmother, and so it was passed down from generation to generation in our family. No one outside of our family has ever heard this version of the story, and it has never been written down anywhere.

No one has ever known what really happened, or how their lives began. Everyone knows that there was a woman named Baba Yaga, and a man named Koschei the Immortal. But no one knows where they came from, or what their childhood was like, or how they became the people they are today. Grandmother has been gone for a long time, but I want to share my knowledge now. It’s time to uncover the secrets of Yaga and Koschei and tell you their story.

In those days, when miracles and magic were commonplace and no one doubted their existence, when illnesses could be cured with potions and magic, when you could meet kind and strange creatures in the forest during the day and evil spirits at night, when you could embark on a journey in search of a firebird’s feather to provide endless light for your home or a fern to grant your deepest wish, when dragons flew through the sky and talking animals were a daily occurrence, the Earth was divided into territories inhabited by humans, evil spirits, and the magical world.

The magical world was closed from prying eyes, there was no way a person could get there on their own. And the inhabitants of the magical world could leave this place and come back again as soon as they pleased. The world of evil spirits, on the contrary, was open to everyone. As its inhabitants said: “We are not afraid of anyone or anything!” – that’s why the gates have always been open for both entry and exit, even for people, even for evil spirits, even for magical creatures. But no one of the human race was willing to visit this place, even out of necessity, let alone out of curiosity. And it was not customary for magical creatures to visit the world of the unclean.

In order to trade with people, the evil spirits came out to the people themselves, and in exchange for human goods, they gave people knowledge and magical attributes. However, the angry and unhappy people asked the evil spirits for potions for love spells, which made their object of love and their surroundings unhappy. People also bought attributes for revenge, which brought grief and sadness to entire homes and families, and they took knowledge to use it for their own evil purposes. As a result, the people decided that those who trade with the evil spirits and take knowledge from them should be isolated from society. In some countries, they even decided to take extreme measures and burn at the stake those who had connections with evil spirits and could take revenge and cause harm from afar.

This is how the fear of those who practice magic came about. And those who practiced magic had the fear of being caught in the act. Magic gradually became a forbidden fruit.

But there were also people who practiced magic only for good deeds, but secretly. There were also good people who obtained knowledge for good purposes. These people practiced healing for a certain fee. Everything has a price. And the price of this secret business is, first and foremost, the risk of your own life, and then the price of your time, effort, ingredients, equipment, and expenses for your food and livelihood.

But the evil and envious people saw only one side of the medicine-man’s activities – they saw large, spacious houses, bought and equipped with the proceeds from healing, they saw horses in the stables. They also saw a large number of patients near the medicine-man’s house, and in their thoughts they already counted how much money the sorcerer received for a day, a week, a year. But they didn’t think about the fact that large houses are needed to accommodate the sick and infirm for constant care, and horses are needed to transport the sick to the hospital when necessary and to bring medicine from the market for their treatment. Additionally, horses are used to explore the forest in search of specific medicinal herbs, and due to the large number of sick people at home, there is no time to enjoy the profits.

These jealous people couldn’t sleep or eat until they revealed the healer’s name and location to the royal guard and witnessed his execution by burning at the stake for practicing magic. Only then could they rest peacefully until they discovered a new target for their envy and hatred.

Over time, magic began to be confused with sorcery, as sorcery could be used for good purposes, but it was forbidden. Therefore, good magic was also considered similar to sorcery, making it risky to engage with. As the years and centuries passed, this confusion persisted. And the magical world stopped letting its inhabitants out, for their own safety. People began to catch and try to exterminate creatures from the world of evil, who had come out of it. At the same time, evil creatures learned to hide from human eyes, and some even began to take revenge not only on the guards and informants, but also on the entire human race, for the death of their blood or spirit relatives.

The knowledge from the world of evil spirits was still being passed on, and they were still trading with humans, but they were doing so more cautiously. The teachings were being kept secret from generation to generation, and they were only shared with relatives or the most trusted students of the human bearers. The knowledge from the evil spirits was rarely shared with those who sought it. It was necessary to prove one’s loyalty, worthiness, and security to the evil spirits before learning anything. Not all knowledge was shared; some people were shown one piece of the secret, while others were shown another. You can’t give one bearer everything at once. Because he could turn all his power against the teacher. So the teacher must always be stronger to withstand possible betrayal.

CHAPTER 2

Everything was fine with Olga Guy, and her husband Egor was a handsome, caring and rich merchant, and the house was huge, and the servants were personal, and the ships were trading, and the farm was large – bees, cows, goats, chickens, horses and sheep could not be counted. Wealth and abundance had been in their family for five years since the wedding. But there were no children. There was no one to transfer all the acquired wealth and experience. There is no one to take care of and raise in love and affection. They really wanted a child, but they couldn’t have one.

Olga and Egor came to a joint decision to seek treatment from a healer in secret. They learned where he was located and what he was like, based on the rumors of those who had already received treatment. Without hesitation, they harnessed two horses and set off on horseback, traveling secretly at night, dressed in black cloaks with large hoods that concealed their faces. They took plenty of money for payment and provisions for the journey. The journey was long, taking two days to reach their destination. At night, they stopped for the night in the forest, lit a fire, and ate together under the starry sky.

They reached their destination at dawn. They had deliberately waited in the forest at the end of the journey to arrive at the house first and avoid being seen by random passers-by. The door was opened by an elderly healer, who appeared to be around eighty years old. He had a gray beard and wore a beige cotton robe that reached to the floor, with no embroidery or patterns. He had a staff in his left hand, which he used to lean on when he walked.

The healer let them into the house and invited them to go to the kitchen to drink tea. The guests agreed and sat down on a bench at the table. When the healer poured tea for the travelers and sat down at the table himself, they began a conversation.

“We have come to you from far away on a very important matter,” Egor began to say. – We don’t want anyone to know about this conversation. Can we count on that?

“Of course, traveler,” the healer replied. “I’ll ask the same of you!” After these words, the healer laughed loudly.

Next, Olga continued:

– My husband and I have been together for five years, but we still can’t have children. We’ve tried all the advice from our friends, and we’ve consumed a lot of herbs, but nothing has happened. Why have the heavens punished us like this? Please help us! We won’t be in your way. We’ve given up. We have a lot of money. We’ll pay whatever you ask. Just help us, please…

The healer thought for a moment and looked at them intently. He looked them over from head to toe, and his gaze was so penetrating that Olga’s entire body trembled, and she suddenly felt cold, every muscle trembling and her skin covered in goosebumps.

They sat in silence for two minutes, and suddenly the healer spoke:

– You don’t have to pay me, I won’t spend medicines and funds on you that would cost money. – he looked at Olga and continued: – You, guest, are completely healthy and your womb is capable of raising a child, and more than once. And you, the guest,” he turned to Egor. – You are also healthy, but not full-fledged, your seed is empty. You are not able to give a new life in your wife’s body. The branch of your family ends with you, and the continuation of this tree is given to other men of your blood, from other branches, but not from yours. I cannot help you with deeds, but I can help you with words. There is a legend that on the Witch’s Hour and the Devil’s Night, on the Bald Mountain, you must hear twelve beats of the gong. And on the last beat, the gates to a secret place will open, where only young maidens can enter. You cannot go there, but you can send your chosen one. Wait for her until dawn, and in the morning she will return to you with a full womb. This will be her child, not yours. But if you are willing to love and raise it as your own, and keep its origins a secret, I will tell you when the day comes.

“Tell me, and I’ll think about it,” Egor replied.

“No, dear!” Olga exclaimed, her face pale with fear. “You won’t do it, we won’t do it, please don’t… I beg you, don’t!”

“What other options do we have?”

“Well, I believe we can make it work without this… All we need is to believe in miracles…” A tear rolled down her cheek.

“Don’t cry, my love…” I can’t bear to see your tears… – saying this, Egor wiped a tear from her cheek and kissed her gently on the forehead, embracing her – let’s try for a few more years, well, three years, and if nothing works out, then we’ll try this method?

“All right…” murmured the upset wife in her nose. “Just promise that we’ll definitely wait three years, and it will happen by itself.” She looked up into his eyes, and there was a question in her gaze.

“All right, all right, I agree,” he smiled and kissed her forehead again, then turned to the healer and said, “Tell me the exact day that will come in three years.”

The healer told him the day and time, and to lighten the atmosphere, he started a conversation on a different topic. Olga calmed down in her husband’s arms, became cheerful, and even started laughing at the healer’s jokes. They spent about an hour together, drinking tea. When someone knocked on the front door, the healer led his guests to the second door on the other side of the house, which led to the backyard with a forest behind the fence. He said goodbye to them, wished them good luck in their marriage, and watched them leave with a sad, sympathetic gaze.

CHAPTER 3

Three years have passed, and the Guy family still hasn’t had any children. However, a lot has changed in their home during this time.

Yegor has become deeply immersed in his work, spending more time on the road and rarely returning home. He has become distant towards his wife, treating her as someone he is used to, someone he is responsible for, and someone he cares about, but nothing more. The passion and infatuation of the past have faded, and true, mature love has yet to emerge in their hearts. Olga was grateful to him for taking care of her and for the gifts he showered on her. He didn’t touch her, and she didn’t distract him from his work, and they each had their own hobbies and concerns.

Egor was striving for money, and his goal in life was to be the richest person in the village. This goal helped him understand why he woke up in the morning and why he lived, because he no longer saw any other joy in life. However, this goal did not always save him. There were moments of sadness and despair when he questioned the purpose of his life. Looking at other well-adjusted families, he wondered, “Why am I here? Why do I need this money?” On such days, he would go to the local tavern and get drunk. He might even get into a fight with the locals, and in the morning, he would apologize, saying that he had been drunk, and give the injured person money so that they would not hold a grudge.

Olga found herself in growing flowers. On her orders, a large glassed-in garden was built, where she spent hours. She took care of the plants, thus compensating for the needs of her maternal instinct. And she was happy that her husband was somewhere at work or in a tavern. After all, while he was busy, he did not touch her and did not disturb the already forgotten worries about their failed union without children. They had both simply accepted this state of affairs and did not live, but existed together by the familiar inertia.

But they were not the only ones unhappy in this settlement. There was also a girl named Katerina, who was dissatisfied with her situation. She had been secretly in love with Yegor for a long time, but she could not express her feelings due to her young age. As she grew older, her feelings for him became stronger.

At first, it was a crush when she saw how he treated his wife, giving her expensive gifts, dressing her up beautifully, and buying her everything she wanted. Was it love or just jealousy? She couldn’t understand her own feelings. He didn’t seem handsome to her, but there was something about him that drew her in. She felt like if she were his wife, she would feel like a princess, with everything she wanted granted and protected from any harm. She really wanted to be his wife, instead of living her own life.

Katerina’s own fate was not to be envied. Her father was an alcoholic, and she had no mother. She didn’t know what a happy family was like, and she always longed for unconditional love and care. Money was scarce in their home, and from a young age, she began working as a servant in a tavern. There, she served drinks, fed and watered guests, and cleaned up after them. It was there that she met Yegor, a wealthy, courteous, and kind man. He was always kind to her and gave her money for free for good service. Then she started following him on the street and admired his noble attitude towards people and his wife.

As the years passed, she began to grow up as a woman. It was then that she began to develop a passion for him. If she had been married at the right time, she would have been able to channel her feelings towards her husband, but since she did not have a husband, the only person she desired was the object of her secret attraction, Yegor. As a result, her feelings for him intensified. Her jealousy, desire for wealth, love, and a newfound sense of sexual attraction all began to turn into addiction and obsession.

She began to dress up provocatively to attract his gaze. But he didn’t notice it. Then she began to think about how else to attract his attention. And one day, she finally figured out how to play on his naive kindness and indifference to the weak.

Every Saturday Egor visited the pub and this time he also came, as Katerina expected. She has already dressed more decently to look like a sweet and fragile girl whom she wants to protect. Egor sat down in his favorite spot by the window at a large, spacious table, where he invited anyone who wanted to join him. The more people there were, the more fun he thought it would be. Some people would tell funny stories, and in return, Egor would buy them drinks on his own expense. Others would pretend to be understanding friends in exchange for drinks. Egor was used in various ways to get drunk and eat at his expense.

Katerina knew when he was going to go home. She knew how much to pour him to get him drunk. She had calculated everything and personally poured him drinks all evening. She had a plan in mind.

In the basement, where the beer barrels were stored, she went to look for a local employee named Pashka. Pashka had been working in the warehouse for a long time and was a hard worker, rarely taking days off. As a result, he rarely joined the drinking party. In his free time, he did not drink and spent it with his family, who needed to be fed and supported. He had a lot of children, and he didn’t have time or money to drink beer with the guys. He brought every penny he earned home to his wife and children, and he was happy to take on any extra work. That was the plan.

– Pasha, are you here? – shouted Katerina, when she came down the stairs.

– Of course here, where else should I be. What do you need? – Pasha replied, moving towards her from behind the left corner with barrels.

– Are you alone? There is a matter.

– Alone, speak.

– I pay five silver, but about this matter will need to be silent and never tell anyone.

– I will not steal and I will not allow you! Pasha replied sharply in a rough voice.

– What are you talking about? What kind of stealing? Are you out of your mind? You need to put on these clothes so that no one recognizes you, and when you’re outside near the exit, behind the woodpile, you need to pretend that you want to undress me and have sex with me, and when the protector approaches, you need to run into the forest and burn these clothes. For this and for your silence, you will receive five silver coins. However, you must never tell anyone about this, do you understand? Do you agree?

– How can I earn that much in an hour? Ha-ha… – Pashka laughed joyfully. – Never happened! How long did you save up that money for such a stupid activity?

“It’s none of your business. I’m giving this money so that I can live like a queen!” Katerina replied, proudly lifting her nose.

“Ha-ha-ha… I’ve never heard anything more ridiculous! Give me the money, queen…” Pashka laughed again. “And throw your things over there.” He pointed to a slightly rotten wooden table near the stairs. “When are we leaving?”

“I’ll come down to you at the right time and call you outside, where we’ll be together to guard my protector. We’ll hide behind the woodpile and sit quietly like mice.”

“Good.”

Pasha took the money and went to finish his work in the corner behind the barrels.

The guests were already starting to leave. Katerina started pouring more beer for Yegor, choosing stronger drinks to make him go home faster. And when she saw that he was getting ready to leave the tavern and was saying goodbye to everyone, she called Pashka and went outside through the door for the workers, on the other side of the tavern entrance. They both crouched behind a stack of wood and looked for Yegor.

When Egor was leaving the tavern and heading home along his usual path through the woodpile, Katerina elbowed Pashka in the ribs with such force and surprise that he let out a yelp.

– Come on! Katerina whispered to him.

Pashka stood up with her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and used his other hand to cover her mouth, but he spread his fingers so that she could scream. Katerina pretended that she couldn’t escape from his grasp and started screaming loudly.

Egor jumped up in fright and was abruptly sobered by a woman’s scream coming from his right. Without hesitation, he rushed towards a silhouette of two shadows near a stack of wood. It took him a moment to realize what was happening, but his instincts took over and compelled him to run towards the scream.

Pashka saw a man running towards him and ran into the forest. Egor stopped next to the girl and peered into the darkness, but he still didn’t fully understand what was happening. Meanwhile, Katerina, with a well-thought-out plan, threw herself into his arms, crying and wiping away tears that streamed from her eyes.

“What happened? Who was that man who ran away?” Egor asked, pulling away from her embrace.

“I was on my way home from work… and I… I…” Katerina began to answer, but before she could finish, she burst into tears again.

“I think I recognize you, do you work here as a servant?” asked Egor, trying to distract her from crying.

– Yes! I work here. I was walking home, and this man jumped out at me from around the corner so suddenly that I didn’t have time to react. Then, he covered my mouth with his hand and started touching me all over, and he also tore my dress on my chest, here… – she pointed to the torn piece of fabric from her dress in the chest area, which she had prepared beforehand and kept in the pocket of her dress, and with her other hand she covered the place where the fabric should be. Without this piece of fabric, her chest was not exposed, but the view was obscene. “And I don’t know what he would have done to me if it hadn’t been for you. It’s a good thing you came here, right here, right now. I’m innocent, and if you hadn’t scared him away, I wouldn’t have been able to marry a decent man. I’m so grateful…” and she began to cry again, slowly stepping closer to him so that he could embrace her and comfort her.

– Maybe I should walk you home? Egor asked.

– Yes, please. I’m really, really scared. And I trust you. You are a noble man and everyone knows it.

– Thanks for the compliments. Egor grinned and took off his raincoat. – Take it and put it on yourself. You can’t walk around like this alone at night.

– I’m sorry, but this is my job and I have to walk home alone from the pub at this time. – with resentment in her voice, Katerina replied, put on her cloak and headed towards home, walking next to her protector.

– Why did you choose such a difficult and dangerous job? – asked Egor.

– I didn’t have a mother, and my father doesn’t work, they don’t hire him because he drinks a lot. He used to earn some money by doing hard labor on call. He would chop wood or dig a garden. But now his health is poor and he can’t even do that. I had to go to work to support my father and me.

– Why didn’t you get married?

– I’m not educated, my father didn’t have money for school, and I’ve been working in the kitchens of big houses since I was young. But they didn’t pay much, so I came here. As for a husband, who would want an uneducated daughter of a drunkard with family debts? Another drunkard with debts? I can’t support two people. Thank you.

– What did you do in the kitchen?

– I washed, cleaned, and helped.

– How much do you get paid here?

– 2 silver per month.

– I’ll pay you 10 silver per month in the kitchen of my ship. We’re going on a voyage to buy goods in a week. You’ll see the world and earn money. No one will hurt you. You’ll share a cabin with the cooks and female workers. It’s safe. I’ll be there, and you can contact me personally if you have any questions. I won’t hurt you. We’ll find you a good husband later. What do you think? Do you agree?

Katerina stopped abruptly, her head spinning with excitement. She hadn’t expected such an offer herself. Her plan had worked. He not only responded to her help, began to feel sorry for her and paid attention, but also offered to live next to him on the ship, of course out of pity, but the result is important. Her eyes widened abruptly, she couldn’t help but smile, and her heart began to beat like a bird’s, so fast that she couldn’t breathe.

– Yes, I agree! Katerina spoke confidently and clearly. – Thank you so much! You are the kindest person I know…

“Then we’ll discuss the details tomorrow when we’re sober, and I’ll come over after lunch. For now, let me walk you home and then I’ll go home myself. My head is splitting.” Egor muttered in a tired voice.

They walked towards her house, chatting nonstop about everything that came to mind.