The Book of Masters

A beautiful girl, daughter of Baba Yaga, finds the magical stone Alatyr in a field. The stone seizes her heart, turning her into the Stone Countess who will rule from a stone tower. The curse drives her to dream of reviving Alatyr and ruling the world through gem-cutting power.

The Countess creates an army of stone soldiers called Ardars and forges a talking mirror. She orders gem-cutters to coax Alatyr to life while they edit their secrets into a grand volume later named the Book of Masters.

One by one the gem-cutters fail to awaken Alatyr and are killed by the Stone Countess. The tower grows darker as she tightens her grip on power and the Book of Masters expands with each failed attempt.

Ivan, an orphan from a village, dreams of becoming the world’s best gem-cutter. He discovers that his father was kidnapped by the Stone Countess, fueling his resolve to avenge him and challenge her rule.

Ivan offends Clava by sculpting her grotesquely, provoking anger from the landlord. Ardars raid the village, capture Ivan and Clava, and bring them to Baba Yaga’s hut for judgment.

Katia, the Stone Countess’s daughter, unexpectedly frees Ivan and Clava from Baba Yaga’s traps. Clava makes a run for safety, while Ivan remains in danger as Katia warns him of her mother’s dark power.

Katia hides Ivan and guides him toward a hidden passage to the stone tower, accessible through a well with the Countess's permission. She entrusts him with the Book of Masters and cautions him about the Countess’s perilous influence.

Ivan dedicates a year to studying the Book of Masters, growing closer to Katia even as Clava pursues him for marriage. The Countess orders Katia to wed Iangul and keeps Clava as a potential match for Ivan, while Cusma, Ivan’s friend, admires Clava.

Ivan finishes the Book and travels to the stone tower. The Countess promises Katia’s hand in exchange for reviving Alatyr. He carves Alatyr into a perfect red rose and it comes alive, but a dream shows Katia denying them a future together.

Fired up by the dream, Ivan flees to Baba Yaga for help. Ardars close in, and Cusma is killed in the pursuit as Ivan escapes deeper into the magical world.

Ivan meets a talking horse, frees a captured mermaid, and aids a bored bogatyr on his journey. Baba Yaga explains that magical diamonds can cancel Alatyr’s dark power and gives him a bottle with the waters of life, reviving Cusma.

Baba Yaga transports Ivan to Koschei the Deathless, owner of the magical diamonds. With the mermaid's aid and her fiancé's help, Koschei is convinced to part with the diamonds, and Ivan takes them to the tower.

Ivan arrives as Katia’s soul is being offered to Alatyr. He adorns Alatyr with the diamonds, breaking the spell, saves Katia, and steals Alatyr. They hurry toward the passage back to the non-magical world, chased by Iangul.

Iangul is petrified by the Countess when she learns of the escape. With Alatyr freed of its corruption, the Countess becomes kind, and Katia marries Ivan. Cusma reconciles with Clava, and both couples live happily ever after.