I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

The healer finished carefully adjusting the small improvised splint on the eagle’s wing before taking a step back.

His hands, old and marked by years of work yet still steady, had moved with a delicacy that surprised Lukas. He had wrapped thin strips of cloth around the injured wing, securing them with small knots that were not too tight, yet maintained the necessary immobilization.

”As I said, I am not a specialist in animals,” the man commented, wiping his hands on a white cloth hanging from his belt.

”My specialty is people. But I have treated some of the castle guards’ hunting birds before.”

He observed the little eagle with experienced eyes.

”She appears strong. The wing is fractured, but not severely. If she receives rest, food, and some basic care, she will probably fly again.”

Elara let out the breath she seemed to have been holding for several minutes. Her shoulders relaxed in relief.

”So she’ll be alright?”

The healer nodded.

”With luck, yes.”

”Not with luck,” Count Hark corrected, observing the scene from the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest.

”With care. Luck is for the weak. Care is for the strong.”

Elara looked at her father, then at the eagle, then back at her father. Her brown eyes shone with an understanding that seemed beyond her age.

”Then we’ll take care of her.”

Count Hark did not respond. He simply nodded.

Lukas lowered his gaze toward the little eagle wrapped in light-colored cloth inside the wooden box. She appeared tired, her eyes half-closed, her breathing slow, yet still alert. Her golden eyes carefully observed everything around her, registering every face, every movement, every sound.

A pleasant warmth spread through his chest.

’She’ll live well.’

”Thank you,” Lukas said sincerely.

The healer merely smiled.

”Take good care of her, young master.”

Lukas nodded firmly.

When they left the healer’s room, silence naturally settled between the two children as they walked through the corridors of Castle Hark.

The late morning light streamed through the tall windows, painting golden patches across the polished stone floor. Tiny particles of dust danced within the sunbeams, as though celebrating the good news.

It was Elara who broke the silence.

”She needs a name.”

Lukas blinked.

”A name?”

”Of course!” the girl replied, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. She gestured with her hands, emphasizing every word.

”You’re going to take care of her. You can’t just call her ’eagle’ forever.”

Lukas looked at the box in his arms. The small creature stared back at him.

Her golden eyes were fixed on him, as though she too were waiting for a name.

A name...

”Do you have any suggestions?” he asked.

Elara placed a finger against her chin, furrowing her brow in concentration.

”Hmm... Feather?”

Lukas remained silent.

”No?”

”It doesn’t fit.”

”Gale?”

Lukas imagined calling the eagle Gale.

”That doesn’t fit either.”

Elara pouted slightly.

”You’re difficult.”

Lukas returned his attention to the small creature. She was small. Strong. Brave.

Even injured, she continued to face the world with determination. She did not shrink away. She did not hide. She simply observed, with the dignity of someone who knew that one day she would fly again.

Then, his eyes lifted toward the sky visible through the windows. Blue. Endless.

He remembered the stars. The night skies he watched from the Dmond Mansion, when he could not sleep and would stare into infinity. The freedom that creature would regain once she could fly again.

”Astra,” he finally said.

Elara tilted her head.

”Astra?”

Lukas nodded.

”It means star.”

Elara repeated it softly, savoring the word.

”Astra...” Then she smiled.

”It’s beautiful.”

Lukas looked at the eagle.

”Astra.”

The small creature tilted her head slightly, an almost human gesture, as though evaluating the name.

Elara’s eyes widened.

”She liked it!”

Lukas suppressed a laugh.

”I don’t think that’s how it works.”

Even so... he liked the idea. Astra. It felt right.

The two continued walking through the corridors.

After a few minutes, Elara asked,

”When she gets better... will she leave?”

Lukas remained silent for a few seconds.

”Probably.”

”Even after you take care of her?”

”Yes.”

Elara lowered her eyes.

”That’s sad.”

Lukas looked at the small box in his arms.

”A little.”

”Then why help?”

He took a few moments before answering.

”Because she needs it.”

Elara fell silent. Then she smiled softly.

”You’re kind.”

Lukas looked away.

”I don’t think that’s it.” But deep down... perhaps it was.

Shortly afterward, Astra began closing her eyes. Her body slowly relaxed, the tension in the muscles beneath her feathers fading, her breathing becoming slower, until she eventually fell asleep inside the box.

The little eagle’s chest rose and fell in a calm, steady rhythm. Her beak was slightly open, and her golden eyes were hidden beneath her eyelids.

Lukas automatically slowed his pace.

”She fell asleep,” Elara commented in a quiet voice.

Lukas nodded.

”I’ll leave her in my room.”

The two returned to the Dmond family’s quarters.

Carefully, with slow, precise movements and without haste, Lukas placed the box near the window. Away from direct sunlight, but close enough for the morning light to warm the wood.

He checked the cloth wrappings. The position of the wing. The bowl of water he had set out before leaving. Only then did he step back.

Elara watched everything in silence.

”You really know how to take care of animals.”

Lukas thought of the horses at Dmond Mansion. Of Tilbo and Silver. Of all the little insects he had captured in the garden.

”I like them.”

Elara broke into a smile.

”Then let’s explore the castle!”

Lukas turned toward her.

”Explore?”

”You’re leaving tomorrow,” she said.

”You can’t leave without seeing everything.”

Lukas hesitated.

There was nothing else for him to do. Astra was asleep. His parents were probably busy with farewells and preparations for the journey. Judith had disappeared on some new adventure somewhere within the castle.

Eventually, he nodded.

”Alright.”

Elara’s smile widened tremendously.

”Let’s go!”

She practically ran through the corridors. Lukas sighed before following after her.

Their exploration began with the inner gardens.

Stone fountains decorated with eagle sculptures poured crystal-clear water into small ponds, where golden fish swam in slow circles. Colorful flowers grew in perfectly arranged flowerbeds, red roses, white lilies, yellow tulips, and small blue blossoms that Lukas had not yet learned to name.

Butterflies fluttered among the petals, their colorful wings shining beneath the sunlight.

Then came the halls.

Corridors adorned with ancient tapestries, depicting scenes of hunts, battles, and coronation ceremonies. The colors remained vibrant, and the golden and silver threads gleamed whenever the light touched them.

Portraits portraying generations of the Hark family. Men and women with gray eyes, elegant clothing, and commanding postures. Some held swords. Others held books. One of them, a harpy.

Ceremonial armors lined against the walls, some golden, others silver, all polished until they gleamed.

”This was my great-grandfather,” Elara explained as she stopped before a portrait.