I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

”Lukas, you managed to keep the pressure on me while Judite prepared her spells.” Then he looked at his daughter.

”And you managed to support your brother without interfering with his movements.”

Clavor placed his hands on his waist, his eyes sweeping over the two of them.

”Perhaps it’s because you are siblings. You grew up together. You know each other’s movements, you know how each of you reacts. That created a natural compatibility.”

Lukas became thoughtful, his father’s words echoing in his mind.

Clavor continued.

”Even though this was your first fight together, you didn’t seem completely uncoordinated. You were able to sense what the other intended to do.”

Judite opened a proud smile.

”So we’re good!”

Clavor laughed.

”You are good for your level.”

Judite’s smile faded.

”That was a strange way to compliment us.”

Lukas laughed, and Clavor did too.

”You are still far too weak to cause me any damage.”

The two fell silent, and then Lukas looked at Judite. Judite looked at Lukas, a determined glimmer appearing in both of their eyes.

Clavor noticed.

”What is it?”

Lukas clenched his fist.

”One day...” Judite finished.

”We’ll defeat you!”

Clavor stood still for a few seconds, then began to laugh.

”I want to see that.”

”Just wait!” Judite declared.

”We’ll become very strong!” Lukas added.

”Then I’ll wait.” Clavor extended his hand toward the two of them. Lukas held it first, then Judite.

The three returned to the camp, and that night, before going to sleep, Lukas and Judite remained talking. The promise had transformed into a new goal, defeating Clavor. Perhaps it would take years, perhaps a decade, perhaps much longer. But that didn’t matter. They had time, and now they had a goal they shared.

...

The third day began unexpectedly.

Lukas woke up feeling something strange on his nose, a small, persistent itch. He frowned, still with his eyes closed, trying to ignore it. The sensation continued, and he moved his nose. Nothing.

Then...

’Achoo!’

Lukas immediately opened his eyes.

”Huh?” He blinked a few times, his vision still partially blurred from sleep. It was then that he noticed something in front of his face, a small creature was flying slowly.

A butterfly.

Lukas remained motionless. It floated a few centimeters away, then returned. He frowned, confused. How had that creature gotten into the tent?

He slowly raised a finger.

”How did you get in here?” The butterfly landed on his finger.

Lukas was surprised, observing it carefully. It was a huge butterfly, approximately the size of his palm.

Its wings were a deep crimson red, almost like fresh blood. Small black markings were scattered across the wings, forming irregular patterns that resembled small drops.

Lukas was enchanted.

”You’re beautiful...” The butterfly remained motionless, not seeming frightened. On the contrary, it seemed to be observing him.

He tilted his finger, and the butterfly remained there.

”You seem special.” He didn’t know how to explain the reason, it was simply a feeling, a kind of intuition. He had already encountered several animals during his life, but that butterfly gave him a different feeling.

”Could it be because of the Affinity with Beings ability?” He thought for a few seconds. His ability really did make certain animals approach him more easily.

”That’s probably it.”

The butterfly continued to sit on his finger, and Lukas brought his face closer. It did not fly away.

”Aren’t you afraid of me?”

At that moment, a movement occurred beside him. Judite began to move, turning her face. She slowly opened her eyes, still sleepy. Then she saw Lukas’s hand and the butterfly. Her sleepiness vanished instantly.

”WHAT?!” Lukas was startled.

”What is it?!”

Judite sat up, her eyes completely awake.

”HOW BEAUTIFUL!” She immediately moved closer.

”Lukas, where did you find this?!”

”I woke up and it was here.” Lukas’s answer was simple.

”Can I see it?” Judite extended her hand.

”Of course.” Lukas watched calmly.

The butterfly remained still, but then something changed. Its wings trembled, and the creature seemed to notice Judite’s approach. Its small head turned.

Judite didn’t notice, her hand continuing to move forward.

”Let me grab it...” The instant her fingers were a few centimeters from the butterfly, the creature reacted.

Lukas’s eyes widened. That thin structure that normally served to suck liquids from flowers began to move, the proboscis. He had always imagined it as something completely harmless. But he was wrong.

The small structure opened in a strange manner, and suddenly, red spines appeared around it. Judite barely had time to react before the proboscis shot forward.

’Puff!’ It struck her hand.

”AAH!” Judite immediately pulled her arm back. The butterfly remained on Lukas’s finger as if nothing had happened.

Judite looked at her own hand. A small hole had appeared in her skin, and blood began to trickle out.

”What the hell?!” She held her hand against her chest.

”Did the butterfly attack me?!”

Lukas was also completely surprised. He looked at the creature, then at his sister’s hand.

”I didn’t know it could do that.”

Judite grimaced.

”It poked me!” She began scratching her hand.

”It hurts!”

”Don’t scratch it.” Lukas said, worried.

”But it’s burning!” Judite’s voice was filled with pain.

At that moment, Aurora woke up.

”What happened?” She opened the curtain of the small area where she had been sleeping and looked at her children. Then she saw the drops of blood on the ground. Her expression immediately changed.

”Judite?”

”Mom!” Judite raised her hand.

”It attacked me!”

Aurora quickly approached, examining the small wound. Then she looked at the butterfly and, to Lukas’s surprise, smiled.

”Oh.”

”Oh?” Lukas was confused.

Aurora discreetly pointed at the creature.

”It’s a vampire butterfly.”

Lukas blinked.

”Vampire butterfly?”

Judite made an indignant expression.

”She’s a vampire?!”

Aurora laughed, a soft sound.

”Not exactly.” She moved a little closer but did not try to touch the butterfly.

”It’s a rare species of butterfly that feeds on blood.”

Lukas was fascinated.

”It really drinks blood?”

”Yes.” Aurora nodded.

”Some species of butterflies have eating habits that are very different from what we imagine. This particular species uses its proboscis to pierce the skin of animals and consume small amounts of blood.”