I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Lukas sat down and began to eat, feeling the comforting taste of homemade food.

Aurora was the first to ask, her gaze curious.

”How was training today?”

Lukas smiled, an expression of genuine satisfaction.

”It went much better.”

Aurora looked at her husband and then at Lukas, her eyes moving between the two.

”So you’re progressing well?”

”Yes.” Clavor replied, his voice calm. It was only one word, but Lukas knew his father well enough to understand its meaning. It was praise, rare and valuable.

Judite also seemed interested, her curiosity piqued.

”Can you already do cool things with mana?”

”I can jump much higher.” Lukas replied, his tone modest.

”That’s all?” Judite seemed a little disappointed.

Lukas laughed, the sound echoing through the room.

”For now.”

The conversation continued throughout dinner, the family sharing stories and laughter as they ate. Afterwards, Lukas went upstairs to his room, his steps slow and relaxed.

Astra was in her usual place, perched on top of the wardrobe. Tilbo occupied the corner near the wall, his enormous form motionless. Rourke was playing with a small piece of cloth, rolling it between his paws with childish joy.

Lukas sat on the bed and spent a few minutes playing with his companions, stroking Tilbo’s head, smoothing Astra’s feathers, and watching Rourke get into mischief.

Then he lay down, his body sinking into the soft mattress. That night, he slept deeply, the fatigue from training weighing on his limbs.

...

The next day, however, there was no training. It was his day of rest.

For some reason, Lukas woke earlier than usual, his eyes opening even before the light of dawn began to seep through the window. The room was still shrouded in darkness, the outlines of the furniture only beginning to emerge.

Lukas blinked several times, still half-asleep. Then he noticed movement near the glass.

Prata.

The spider was silently approaching the window, her eight legs moving with precision across the wooden windowsill. She was already preparing to leave, as she did every morning.

Lukas watched for a few seconds, his eyes following her graceful movements. That was when he noticed something.

Prata did this practically every day. She left early, spent hours in the forest, hunted, explored, and only returned to the mansion at the end of the day, when the sun was already low on the horizon. Lukas had always known this, but he had never really stopped to think about what it meant.

He spent most of his time training with Clavor or accompanied by Astra, Tilbo, and Rourke. Prata, on the other hand, had become almost an independent creature, a silent presence that came and went according to her own will.

She still considered the mansion her home, still returned every night, and still remained close to him when she was nearby. But her routine was completely different from that of the other companions.

Lukas felt a small pang of guilt, a realization that he had neglected that companion.

”Prata.” His voice came out low, but the spider stopped immediately, her eight eyes turning toward him.

Lukas sat up in bed, his movements slow.

”Wait.”

Prata remained motionless, her eyes gleaming in the darkness.

Lukas stood up, his feet touching the cold floor.

”Today I’m going with you.”

The spider slightly tilted her body, a subtle movement that Lukas interpreted as acknowledgment. It was difficult to know exactly what the little creature was thinking, but he knew his companions well enough to recognize when they were paying attention.

”Just wait a little.” He ran to the bathroom, his footsteps quick against the wooden floor. He washed his face with cold water, feeling the refreshing shock against his skin. He adjusted his white hair in front of the mirror, a futile effort that made him chuckle softly.

Then he put on comfortable and sturdy clothing, dark pants, a light tunic, and boots suitable for walking through the forest. He fastened a few small pouches around his waist, more out of habit than necessity, and checked that he was ready.

When he returned to the room, Prata was still at the window, motionless as a statue.

Lukas smiled, a smile of gratitude.

”You really waited.”

The spider began descending the outer wall, her legs finding footholds in the gaps between the stones. Lukas approached the window and looked down, assessing the distance.

The second floor was not particularly high for someone who now mastered Lunar Reinforcement. Still, he could simply use the stairs like a normal person.

But...

Lukas looked at Prata, her dark form descending the wall. Then he looked at the green, inviting grass below.

A smile appeared on his lips.

He jumped.

His body fell quickly, the wind blowing against his face. Before reaching the ground, he sent a small amount of mana into his legs, activating the reinforcement at precisely the right moment.

Lukas bent his knees.

’Thump.’

He landed softly, the impact absorbed by the reinforcement. No pain, no waste, no hesitation.

Prata was already waiting, her dark form motionless in the grass.

Lukas walked toward her, his steps light. The spider raised a few of her front legs, a gesture he had already learned to recognize as a greeting.

”Let’s go.”

The two began walking, leaving the mansion behind.

There would be no training today, no orders from Clavor, no control exercises, or mana measurements. It would simply be a quiet day, a day to accompany Prata, a day to better understand that silent companion who had spent so much time exploring the forest alone.

Lukas smiled, the morning breeze caressing his face.

”Let’s see what you find out there.”

Prata turned and began moving between the trees, her dark form gliding with hypnotic fluidity.

And so, on that quiet morning, Lukas entered the forest once again. This time, not as an apprentice training to become a warrior, not as someone seeking strength or power. But simply as a boy walking alongside his companion, exploring the world around them.