I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

As Lukas walked, Rourke jumped from his shoulder onto a fallen log, exploring every crevice with his tireless curiosity.

Then he came running back, his tiny body moving swiftly through the grass.

Tilbo chased small insects among the dry leaves, more for fun than out of necessity, his mandibles snapping shut in playful motions.

Astra took advantage of the warm air currents to glide above the trees, her wings spread wide in a lazy flight. Prata slowly built a new web between two bushes, placing each strand with perfect precision.

Lukas simply watched, a peaceful smile on his face. Without trying to cultivate, without trying to train, without trying to force anything. Simply living in that moment, present and grateful.

He sat down beside the stream, the soft grass yielding beneath his weight. Rourke immediately climbed into his lap, curling up into a little ball, his eyes slowly closing. Lukas gently began stroking the little rat, feeling its soft fur beneath his fingers.

"We’re almost there..." he murmured, his eyes fixed on the little creature resting in his lap.

He glanced discreetly at him, activating his ability. The affinity was still increasing slowly, but it was there, growing with each passing day. It wouldn’t be much longer, very little longer.

He smiled to himself, the thought warming his heart. Perhaps in just a few days, he would receive another ability. He didn’t know what it would be, but the anticipation was immense, a promise of something new and exciting.

...

Time passed almost without him noticing, the hours slipping through his fingers like water. Little by little, the sun’s golden light began to fade, its rays growing longer and gentler.

The shadows of the trees stretched farther, reaching across the grass like long fingers. The sky turned shades of orange, then crimson, until it finally sank into a deep blue scattered with stars.

The forest changed completely as night fell. The daytime birds fell silent, their songs replaced by the sounds of the night, crickets chirping in a steady rhythm, owls calling from distant trees, and small animals hidden among the bushes moving in search of food.

Lukas returned to the clearing, his feet knowing the path even in the darkness. He already knew exactly where he should sit, in the center, always in the same place, where he had trained beside his father for so many days.

A few minutes later, he heard footsteps approaching, the familiar sound of boots against the grass. Clavor emerged from among the trees carrying a small metal lantern, its soft light cutting through the darkness.

It wasn’t meant to illuminate the entire clearing, only to subtly mark the surroundings, creating a point of reference.

He placed the lantern on top of a rock and lit the flame, the fire crackling softly. A warm yellow light slowly spread across the clearing, while the shadows danced around it in a silent ballet.

Clavor looked up at the sky, his eyes judging the moon’s position. The nearly full moon had already risen above the treetops, its silver light bathing the clearing.

It would still climb a little higher, reaching its highest point, but the ideal moment was approaching.

"How did you spend your afternoon?" Clavor’s voice was calm and casual.

"I walked through the forest." Lukas’s answer was simple and sincere.

"Did you think about the connection?" The question carried a tone of evaluation.

Lukas shook his head firmly.

"No."

Clavor smiled faintly, a smile of approval.

"Excellent."

It was exactly the answer he had hoped for, confirmation that his son had understood the lesson.

The warrior sat down a short distance away, keeping several meters between them. Neither close enough to interfere nor far enough that he couldn’t step in if necessary. His presence was an anchor, a point of safety in the darkness.

The four companions also seemed to understand the importance of that night. Astra landed silently on a branch, her golden eyes shining in the darkness.

Tilbo remained perfectly still near the roots of a tree, his enormous form almost invisible in the dim light. Prata settled into her web, her eyes reflecting the lantern’s glow. Rourke curled up near Lukas’s feet, his tiny body warm against the ground.

None of them made a single sound, as though the entire forest knew that something important was about to happen.

The cold wind blew steadily, causing the leaves to produce a constant whisper, a melody accompanying the night. The scent of damp earth mingled with the delicate fragrance of nocturnal flowers, creating a unique aroma.

Lukas slowly closed his eyes, sinking into his inner darkness. He assumed the posture taught by the Lunar Source Manual, legs crossed, back perfectly straight, shoulders relaxed, palms facing upward.

His breathing became slow, deep, and steady. He inhaled, feeling the cool air fill his lungs. He held his breath, the pause creating a moment of inner silence. Then he exhaled slowly, releasing every trace of tension.

Again.

And again.

Little by little, every thought began to disappear like clouds dissolving beneath the sun. That morning’s training, the conversation during breakfast, the afternoon’s carefree moments, everything faded into the distance, like memories from another lifetime.

His mind became a perfectly still lake, its surface as smooth as glass.

Within his chest, the Lunar Source pulsed gently, its silver light shining at its core. The tiny full moon radiated a calm, constant glow like the stars themselves. With every heartbeat, small waves of mana spread through his torso before returning to the core.

It was a perfect, natural cycle, requiring no effort.

Lukas immersed himself even more deeply in that sensation. The ambient mana began to gather around him of its own accord, as though drawn by the presence of the Source.

The particles slowly passed through his skin, entering his body like a gentle breeze. They traveled directly to the Source, nourishing it before disappearing within it.

Everything happened with almost no conscious control. It was completely different from that first night, when every particle had been a battle, every movement an effort. His body had learned. His Source had matured.

After many long minutes of absolute silence, Clavor finally opened his eyes, his perception sensing the perfect moment. He observed the position of the moonlight, the quality of the light, and the tranquility of the night.

He gave a subtle nod, a movement so slight it was almost imperceptible. The time had come.

His voice broke the silence of the clearing, calm and steady.

"Lukas."

The boy did not open his eyes, but his ears caught the word. He simply acknowledged it with a slight nod of his head.

"You know the way."

A brief pause followed, the silence stretching like a breath.

"You’re ready."

Lukas took another deep breath, feeling the air fill his lungs. His heart beat steadily and calmly, without the slightest acceleration. Within him, the tiny moon shone brilliantly, as though it had been waiting for this very moment.

Now only one channel remained. The most delicate, the most dangerous, the one that would finally connect the entire network of mana throughout his body. The final connection.

He let the rest of the world fade away, his consciousness sinking completely into his inner self.

Nothing else existed, not the wind, not the sounds of the forest, not the lantern’s glow, not even Clavor’s reassuring presence.

Only his breathing and the Lunar Source.

And before him, only one task remained.

To connect the Lunar Source to his head.

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