A mysterious creature brings a dying man to a snowy village. Ziya leaves his hometown — and his sweetheart, Asiye — to study medicine in Istanbul.

The creature makes an offering to the starving village. After a rocky start at university, Ziya seeks out a mysterious and eccentric former teacher.

Ziya goes to great lengths to convince Ihsan to teach him his experimental scientific methods, but their first test ends in disaster.

Still reeling, Ziya reckons with the consequences of his actions and enlists aid from Yunus. Later, Asiye travels to Istanbul to surprise her love.

Dirty and sick, Ziya returns to Bursa only to discover that the people he came for are already gone. Ihsan finds community in a wandering carnival.

A well-intentioned Ihsan gets into trouble at the carnival. Ziya tries to settle into a quiet life in the village, but his past haunts him.

After years of longing and weeks of preparation, Ziya and Asiye take an important step. On the run from danger, Ihsan meets someone special of his own.