I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Sunlight filtered through the treetops in golden beams, creating dancing patterns across the ground covered with dry leaves and moss. The scent of damp earth and foliage filled the air, mixed with the subtle fragrance of wildflowers. Birds sang in the distance, and the sound of a nearby stream could be heard.

After walking for about ten minutes, they arrived at a clearing.

Lukas recognized the place immediately. It was where they had celebrated his birthday a few years ago. He remembered the blanket spread across the ground covered with sweets, the cake with lit candles, and his father carrying him on his shoulders while everyone sang.

The clearing was spacious, perfectly circular, surrounded by ancient trees with thick trunks and exposed roots. The ground was covered only with short, soft grass, as if the place itself had been prepared for that very moment.

Clavor walked to the center of the clearing. His steps were firm and confident, leaving faint marks in the grass.

Then he pointed to a spot in front of him.

”Sit down.”

Lukas obeyed immediately, without hesitation. He sat on the grass, crossing his legs as he had done so many times during Master Thorne’s meditation lessons, while patiently waiting for instructions.

Today he was alone. Tilbo, Prata, and Astra had remained at the manor, sleeping or playing in the gardens. This was a moment shared only between father and son.

Clavor stood silently for a few seconds, observing the boy. His straight posture, focused gaze, controlled breathing... Lukas’s determined expression was impossible to hide.

The man eventually smiled, a calm and affectionate smile.

”You don’t need to be so nervous.”

Lukas blinked in surprise.

”I’m nervous?”

”You are.” Clavor let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head.

”Your whole body is tense. Your shoulders are raised, and your fingers are clenched. It’s as if you’re expecting an attack.”

The boy immediately relaxed his shoulders, realizing his father was right. He scratched the back of his neck discreetly, feeling a little embarrassed.

”I guess I’m a little anxious. I don’t want to make mistakes.”

”That’s normal.” Clavor crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly.

”But you need to understand one thing. Making mistakes is part of the process. If you never make mistakes, then you’re not challenging yourself. And if you don’t challenge yourself, you’ll never grow.”

Lukas absorbed those words, storing them in his mind like a precious treasure.

”Today we won’t be doing any intense training.” Clavor’s voice was calm, almost gentle.

”Don’t expect to run or lift weights.”

The boy looked surprised.

”We won’t?”

”We won’t.” The man shook his head once more.

”Today, I’m only going to explain the basics. The theory behind everything you need to know to begin. After that, we’ll start your training little by little, at your own pace.”

Lukas nodded promptly.

”Understood, Father.”

Clavor took a deep breath, his shoulders rising and falling in a slow, controlled motion. He began walking slowly around his son, like a teacher preparing an important lesson, while his voice filled the clearing.

”First... you should already know that anyone who wishes to become truly strong must possess one specific thing.”

He paused briefly, allowing the anticipation to build.

”Mana affinity.”

Lukas remained completely attentive. His violet eyes followed every movement his father made, and his ears caught every word.

”Mana is the primordial energy of this world.” Clavor gestured broadly, as if embracing the entire forest around them.

”It exists in absolutely everything. In the air. In the water. In the earth. In the trees surrounding us. In the animals living in the forest. In the monsters that inhabit dangerous regions. In people.”

He approached a nearby tree, placing a hand on its rough bark.

”Even objects carry small amounts of it. This tree has mana. That stone on the ground does as well.”

As he spoke, Clavor picked up a small stone from the ground, holding it between his fingers.

”This stone has mana.”

Then he pointed toward the tree he had just touched.

”That tree does too.”

Next, he placed a hand over his own chest, above his heart.

”And so do we. Every living being possesses mana within them.”

Lukas absorbed every word, feeling as though he was finally beginning to understand the world around him.

”No one creates mana. No one destroys mana.” Clavor tossed the stone back onto the ground.

”It simply exists. It is a constant, just like the air we breathe or the gravity that keeps us on the ground. What we do is learn how to use it.”

The boy felt his curiosity grow. This was the part that fascinated him the most.

”And there are two main ways to do that.” Clavor raised two fingers, emphasizing each word.

”The first path... is known as the Path of the Mind.”

”This is the path followed by mages.”

Lukas immediately remembered Master Thorne, the old mage who taught Judite. He remembered the times he had seen glowing circles dancing before his sister’s eyes, the colorful lights emerging from her hands.

”Mages manipulate mana through the mind.” Clavor continued, his fingers tracing invisible patterns through the air.

”They create magic circles. Complex structures of energy that channel and direct mana.”

”Circles?” Lukas tilted his head, trying to imagine what that meant.

”What do you mean?”

”Imagine extremely complex designs formed within your own consciousness.” Clavor’s voice was patient.

”Geometric patterns interwoven together, layer upon layer of symbols and runes. Each circle is like a vessel that stores mana. The more circles a mage possesses, the greater the amount of mana they can control.”

He paused, allowing the information to settle.

”And the more complex those circles become, the greater the power of their spells. A novice mage may have only a few simple circles. A master mage possesses dozens, perhaps hundreds, each one more intricate than the last.”

Lukas imagined countless glowing patterns shining inside a mage’s mind. Geometric shapes slowly rotating, ancient runes pulsing with their own light. It sounded fascinating.

”Mages possess tremendous versatility.” Clavor continued walking slowly in circles.

”They can control fire, water, wind, earth, and countless other elements. There are also healing spells, support magic, protective magic, and innumerable specializations. The more creative and intelligent a mage is, the more ways they find to use their magic.”

Lukas listened with great interest. Magic truly sounded incredible. The idea of controlling the elements through the power of the mind alone was something that had always fascinated him.