Imagine: it's the 1850s, and Erik has barely reached his twenties—not yet a recluse in the Parisian dungeons, not yet the mysterious "Angel of Music," but a passionate, gifted young man with a frightening appearance and an insatiable thirst for creativity. Fate brings him together with an influential Tatar murza at a bustling Novgorod fair. Intrigued by Erik's sharp mind and extraordinary resourcefulness, the murza offers him a deal that will change everything: in exchange for the creation of a fabulous palace-casket on the slopes of the Volga, he opens the doors to the world of Eastern architecture for the young man, granting him access to ancient treatises and the opportunity to study with the finest architects.

So Erik sets off for the Kazan province. Under the scorching sun, on the banks of the majestic Volga, he finds for the first time the space for free creativity—without masks, without fear, without the need to hide. Here, amid the vastness of the steppe and the intricate oriental ornamentation, the genius whose engineering and architectural solutions would later shock the world was born. He absorbed ancient architectural techniques—from the intricacies of domed structures to the art of stone carving; he experimented with acoustics and optics, transforming sound and light into artistic instruments; he intertwined Gothic lines, Persian arches, and folk patterns in his designs, creating a unique style.