The 14-year-old orphan boy Krabat starts an apprenticeship as a miller. The mill turns out to be a "black school", where the master teaches twelve mill squires at a time in black magic. At first Krabat likes the training. He is fascinated by the power that can be gained over people. He makes friends with the journeymen, especially with the old journeyman Tonda, who becomes his role model. But after a year, Tonda dies mysteriously, and a new apprentice boy takes his place.
After the second year is up, another journeyman dies. He is replaced by Krabat's friend. Krabat gradually sees through the terrible game: the Master has devoted himself to evil and must sacrifice one of his pupils every year. Krabat wants to defy him, practices the black art and becomes the best pupil. Strength is given to him by his love for a girl from the village, the precentor "Kantorka", whose name he doesn't know. With her he meets secretly. One of the journeymen confides something important to Krabat: The love of a girl for one of the miller's boys can defeat the Master. For this, the girl must appear in the mill on New Year's Eve and pass a test of death and life. For a long time Krabat wrestles with himself, whether he wants to put his Kantorka through that...
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