The Universe of Nothing II (collection)

Тимур Джафарович Агаев (2025)

"The Universe of Nothing II" takes the reader into an epic sequel to an exciting saga where the fates of orcs, humans and magicians are intertwined in the struggle for survival and power. The Orc warriors, united by the iron will of their leader, are ready to once again challenge the human kingdoms torn apart by internal strife. "The Universe of Nothing II" is a story about sacrifice and hope, where each page immerses the reader in a completely different world, where nothing is what it seems.

Madness and power

As Althus approached the group of refugees, they met him with wary glances. Despite the fact that their world was destroyed by wars and brutality, peopleе still retained the remnants of distrust for everything new and unknown. They wanted to be saved, but they were contradictory by nature.

They looked at the young mage suspiciously, especially when they noticed that he was festooned with strange devices that resembled modern technology.

People at first thought he was a charlatan and did not believe that they were on another land, the Land of Magicians. People asked him how he could think of himself as a magician when he was covered in technology. The magician explained that these technologies do not work due to the work of any mechanisms, but with the help of magic and Great Forces (he did not explain the differences between magic and great forces).

— You're saying we're in the Land of the Magi?"one of the men asked, frowning skeptically. — You look more like an engineer than a magician."How can we believe you?

Althus smiled, understanding their doubts. He knew that the inhabitants of the Land of Men were used to relying on machinery and technology, and the idea of magic might seem absurd to them.

— You're right, I do use some devices,"he said, holding up a hand that glittered with a metal bracelet. — But these things don't workеby mechanical processes, but by magic and great powers. Everythingеyou see around you is created here by magic.

People looked at each other,е ещstill doubtful. One woman, holding a small childеin her arms, asked cautiously:

"If it's true… Then why don't you just show us some magic? So that we вам can believe you and see for sure…

Althus nodded, knowing that a demonstration would be the best way to convince them. He raised his hands and began chanting a spell slowly. A ball of light appeared in the air above his palms, gradually increasing in size until it became a small blue dragonfloating above the clearing.

The refugees gasped as they stepped back. Rebyenok in the woman's arms laughed softly as he held out his hands to the dragon. People looked at Althus with both admiration and fear.

As soon as the humans realized that they had stepped out of their territory, their eyes were filled with both hope and fear — what if the mages didn't accept them now? Although Altus ' kindness certainly calmed them down.

People said that they originally wanted to go to the Land of the Orcs. Altus said that they were lucky to have fallen into the hands of the magicians-on the Land of the Orcs, they would simply have been killed. Those, for some reason, laughed… This seemed strange to Althus, but there was no explanation for this reaction…