(story)

Oleksiy’s eyes grew heavy as he pored over his history textbook, the dim lamplight casting long shadows across the pages detailing the Cossack era of Ukrainian history. He had a big exam tomorrow, but the complex dates and names were blurring together. Just for a moment, he thought, “I’ll take a nap for a bit…”

When he opened them again, something was different. The soft electric light was gone, replaced by flickering candlelight. The modern room had vanished, transformed into a wooden cabin with rough-hewn walls. The smell of leather, smoke, and sweat filled his nostrils.

A bearded man in a distinctive red żupan (traditional Cossack coat) was looking at him curiously. “Are you feeling well, young lad?” the man asked in Ukrainian.

Oleksiy realized he was dressed in similar clothing, his history textbook nowhere to be seen. He had somehow traveled back to the 17th century, right in the middle of the Cossack Hetmanate period.

The man introduced himself as Petro, a seasoned Cossack warrior from the Zaporizhian Sich. Oleksiy learned he was in a Cossack settlement near the Dnipro River, during a time of constant conflict with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire.

At first, Oleksiy was terrified. But Petro and the other Cossacks were surprisingly welcoming. They saw his bewilderment as a sign of youth rather than suspicion. He quickly learned that survival in this era meant adapting quickly.

The Cossacks taught him essential skills. He learned to ride horses with remarkable speed and precision, something completely foreign to his modern city life. They showed him how to handle a shashka (traditional Cossack saber), teaching him defensive and offensive techniques that seemed almost like an art form.

One day, a scout arrived with urgent news. A Polish cavalry unit was approaching their settlement, potentially looking to engage in conflict. Oleksiy, who had only read about such battles in textbooks, now found himself preparing for a real historical encounter.

His modern knowledge gave him unexpected advantages. He remembered details about terrain, battle strategies, and the historical context of conflicts between Cossacks and Polish forces. When the battle began, he used this knowledge subtly, offering strategic suggestions that surprised even the most experienced warriors.

The battle was intense. Horses thundered, sabers clashed, and the air was filled with the sounds of combat. Oleksiy fought alongside Petro, his newfound skills and historical knowledge helping to protect the settlement.

As the conflict subsided and victory was claimed, Oleksiy realized he was living the history he had only read about. The textbook facts had transformed into living, breathing experiences.

Weeks passed, and Oleksiy became deeply integrated into the Cossack community. He learned about their democratic traditions, their complex social structure, and their fierce commitment to freedom. He understood why these people were so pivotal in Ukrainian history.

Just as he was beginning to feel completely at home, a strange sensation overcame him. The candlelight began to blur, the sounds of the Cossack settlement started to fade.

He was back in his room, the history textbook open before him. The exam was in a few hours. But something had changed. The words on the page were no longer just text—they were memories, vivid and real.

Oleksiy smiled, knowing that she grasped Ukrainian history in a way no textbook could ever teach.