I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Two months had passed since Lukas spoke his first words.

Time, which had once dragged endlessly, every minute feeling like an hour, now rushed forward at a speed that surprised him.

The days began to blend together, no longer because of the suffocating monotony of the cradle and boredom, but because of the abundance of stimuli, discoveries, and life.

Lukas had completed five months of life in this new world.

Five months since he had opened his eyes for the first time and seen Aurora’s face, bathed in tears of exhaustion and happiness.

And his existence had changed in an unexpected way.

His plan had worked.

Perhaps even too well.

After that memorable day when he called Judite by name and then correctly identified every member of the family, Aurora and Clavor began treating him differently.

There were no longer those looks of simple maternal or paternal affection, the kind of look given to an ordinary baby, adorable, but still little more than a bundle of biological needs.

Now, there was admiration.

There was pride.

And, at certain moments, especially when Lukas said something particularly complex for his age or demonstrated that he understood a conversation not directed at him, there was a faint, concealed concern, a slight frown his parents exchanged in silence.

”Our son is special.” Aurora would whisper to Clavor at night, when they thought Lukas was asleep.

And because of this perception that he was different, special, precocious, a ”genius” by their standards, his parents began actively teaching him.

They no longer simply allowed him to listen and absorb passively, as he had done during the first months. Now, they dedicated time and energy to educating him, stimulating him, and challenging him.

And Lukas, hungry for knowledge since his previous life, drank in every drop.

Aurora was the most devoted.

Every morning, as soon as the sun began painting the sky in soft colors, first pink, then orange, she would wake him with a kiss on the forehead and carry him through the mansion in her arms.

She wrapped him in a soft blanket, even when it was not cold, simply because she liked seeing him cozy.

”Good morning, my love.” She whispered, her violet eyes still half-closed with sleep, yet already shining with joy.

”Shall we learn new things today?”

Lukas nodded, a small smile on his lips.

She pointed at every object, every piece of furniture, every detail of the mansion’s architecture, repeating the names slowly, with infinite patience, as though he were a diligent student and she the best teacher in the world.

”This is a chair.” She said, stopping before a tall carved wooden chair upholstered with red velvet.

”Chair. You sit on chairs.”

”Chair.” Lukas repeated, his voice childish and sweet, yet with perfect pronunciation.

”This is a table.” She continued, pointing at the large dining table in the center of the hall, where the family gathered every night.

”Ta-ble. We eat at the table. We talk at the table. We make plans at the table.”

”Table.”

”This is a window.” She carried him to the nearest window, opening the heavy linen curtains to reveal the blue sky outside.

”Win-dow. Look at the sun, Lukas! Look at the trees. Look at the birds.”

Lukas looked outside, his eyes shining. He saw the birds flying in circles, the trees swaying in the wind, and the white clouds moving slowly. He saw a world out there, vast, unknown, filled with creatures he had not yet encountered.

”Window.” He said, but his eyes remained fixed on the horizon.

”I want to go outside.”

Aurora laughed, kissing his cheek.

”Soon, my love. When you’re a little bigger.”

”I’m already big.” Lukas replied with the seriousness of someone who truly believed it.

Aurora laughed even louder.

Every new word Lukas repeated clearly made her smile widen until her violet eyes nearly disappeared. She could not hide her pride. Nor did she try to.

”You’re so smart.” She said almost every morning.

”So, so smart. Mommy is very lucky.”

Lukas felt the warmth of her chest against his back and the steady rhythm of her heart and felt safe.

Clavor also participated in Lukas’s learning, though in a more practical and less poetic way than Aurora.

During the afternoons, when he returned from training with Asmon, his body sweaty, wet hair stuck to his forehead, and linen shirt soaked through, he would sit with Lukas on his lap in a large armchair near the fireplace. The fire crackled, casting dancing shadows across the stone walls.

Clavor was not a man of many words. His love was expressed through actions, not speeches.

But when it came to teaching his youngest son about the world, about the family, and about the Dmond legacy, he became almost talkative.

”This is a sword, son.” He said, pointing to one of the many blades displayed on the wall of the main hall.

The one he indicated was ancient, its leather hilt worn by time, the blade stained with a darkening Lukas suspected was dried blood from old battles.

”Sword. The weapon of our family. The Dmonds have been swordsmen for generations. Your great-grandfather defeated an invading knight with this sword. Your grandfather used it during the Border War.”

Lukas looked at the sword, then at Clavor, then back at the sword again.

”Sword.” He repeated.

”This is a shield.” Clavor continued, pointing at a round shield of wood and metal hanging beside the sword.

”Shield.”

”This is the Dmond crest.” Clavor pointed to a tapestry on the opposite wall, where a stylized animal, resembling a wolf but with a tail split into three tips, was embroidered in silver threads against a dark blue background.

”Crest. Our symbol. The Three-Tailed Wolf represents the strength and ferocity of our family.”

Lukas frowned.

’A three-tailed wolf? Does that really exist in this world?’

”Wolf.” He said, testing the word in the local language.

”Does it exist?”

Clavor raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question.

”It does. A long time ago. My grandfather saw one once, in the mountains. He said it was one of the most terrifying and beautiful creatures he had ever witnessed.”

Lukas felt his heart race.

”I want to see one.” He said, his violet eyes shining.

Clavor laughed, a deep and heavy laugh.

”When you’re older, son. And stronger. And ready.”

Lukas stored that silent promise within his heart.