I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Chapter 146: Hark Castle

That morning, however, he was especially excited. The sun shone brightly high in the sky, and the morning breeze carried the scent of flowers and damp earth through the open window.

On his bed rested a carefully packed backpack. A few books he wanted to consult during the trip, clean clothes, and small personal belongings.

Astra’s box was ready, lined with soft cloth so the rat could travel comfortably. And inside it, the little gray rat watched everything with his attentive eyes.

Aurora smiled as she watched him check everything for the third time, her eyes shining with a mixture of pride and amusement.

"Are you excited?"

"Very."

She laughed, a sweet, melodic sound that filled the room.

"I can tell. You’ve checked that backpack more times than I check the manor’s accounts."

A few days earlier, Lukas had sent a letter to Hark Castle. His handwriting was careful, every word chosen to express exactly what he wanted.

His goal was simple. To study. Dmond Manor’s library was excellent, one of the best in the region, with books covering a wide variety of subjects. But Hark Castle’s library was legendary.

If there was any book describing that strange rat, it would probably be in the castle’s library. And Lukas was determined to find it.

A few days later, a messenger eagle returned carrying the reply in a small scroll sealed with the Hark family’s crest. The message was short, direct, yet welcoming.

He was welcome. He could stay for about a week and research whatever he wished. A room was being prepared for him, and the library would be entirely at his disposal.

...

Judite crossed her arms, puffing out her cheeks with an obvious pout.

"I wanted to go too."

Clavor immediately shook his head, his voice firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

"No."

"But..."

"You have lessons with Master Thorne. Your studies can’t be interrupted."

She puffed out her cheeks even more, her eyes filling with exaggerated drama that made everyone around her smile.

"It’s not fair..."

Thorne let out a small chuckle, a rare sound that escaped his lips only when he was in an especially good mood.

"When you finish your current studies... perhaps. But for now, you still have a lot to learn about controlling fire."

Judite sighed in defeat, her shoulders slumping.

"Fine..."

Lukas smiled faintly, hiding his grin behind his hand. He knew his sister was simply jealous and missed Elara, the friend she had met during the birthday celebration.

...

Not long afterward, a carriage departed from Dmond Manor. The vehicle was comfortable and well-padded, with velvet curtains shielding its passengers from the morning sun.

The journey passed in complete peace. The roads, once dangerous and threatening, were now safe again, traveled by merchants and travelers who had returned to their usual routes.

No magical beasts appeared. No monsters attacked. Lukas’s only companions throughout the journey were the wind tapping against the windows and the rhythmic sound of the horses’ hooves on the road.

As the carriage rolled onward, he watched the scenery through the window. Green fields stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with small farms and villages that looked as though they had come straight out of a painting.

Small farmhouses with thatched roofs and wooden fences sheltered livestock grazing peacefully.

It was hard to believe that only a few months earlier, all of it had been on the verge of disappearing, that the forest had been overrun by monsters, that people had lived in constant fear.

...

After several hours of travel, the enormous silhouette of the Great Rock appeared on the horizon. The massive rock formation rose against the sky like a giant finger of stone pointing upward.

Lukas’s eyes widened, and his breath caught for a moment. Even though he had seen that formation several times before and had even climbed it during his first visit to the castle for Elara’s birthday, it remained breathtaking.

The gigantic mountain of stone towered hundreds of meters above the ground, its surface covered with low vegetation clinging to cracks and ledges. Small trees grew upon natural plateaus, creating patches of green across the gray landscape.

And at its summit, Hark Castle dominated the entire region like a true giant of stone. Its towers stretched toward the heavens.

The fortress looked like part of the mountain itself, as if it had been carved directly into the rock rather than built upon it. Thick walls of dark stone protected the entire stronghold, and the Hark family’s banners fluttered in the wind atop every tower.

"We’re here."

Clavor stopped the horse near the enormous staircase leading to the top of the Great Rock. The staircase was so wide that three carriages could travel side by side, and its steps were so ancient that some had been worn smooth by time.

"I have a few matters to take care of in the city. I need to meet a fabric supplier who promised to deliver some special goods for the manor."

He looked at Lukas, his eyes measuring his son’s determination.

"Can you make the climb by yourself?"

"I can."

Clavor smiled, a proud smile that lit up his face.

"Then I’ll see you in a week. If you need anything, just ask the castle servants. The Count has already been informed of your arrival."

Lukas nodded.

"Good luck with the fabrics."

"Thank you. Good luck with your books."

The two bid each other farewell with a firm clasp of the forearm, a gesture that had become their habit. Soon after, Clavor guided his horse in another direction, following the road toward the city.

Lukas stood still for a few seconds, gazing at the gigantic staircase. It was enormous. It seemed endless, its steps disappearing into the distance until they became invisible.

He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the mountain’s fresh air.

"Let’s go."

Astra naturally landed on his shoulder, her warm, familiar body resting against him. The young eagle seemed just as excited as he was, her eyes gleaming with the promise of a new adventure.

The box strapped to his back swayed gently. Inside it, the little rat remained completely silent, watching through the narrow gaps in the wood.

Step after step... after step.

As he climbed, Lukas watched the view grow more beautiful with every passing moment. The houses of the city, which had once seemed so large, became tiny, like pieces on a game board.

The trees resembled a vast green carpet stretching all the way to the horizon, an endless sea of leaves and trunks fading into the distance. The rivers shimmered like silver ribbons winding between the hills, while the mountains beyond stood proudly beneath the blue sky.

The wind grew stronger as he gained altitude, carrying the scent of stone and open skies. His clothes fluttered around his body, and his hair was tossed in every direction.

Even though the climb was tiring, he kept smiling. Every step brought him closer to the greatest library he had ever seen in his life in this world.

A place where ancient books guarded secrets, where scrolls waited for curious readers, where knowledge had accumulated like a priceless treasure.

And perhaps, the answers he had been searching for over so many months.

As he continued climbing, another thought naturally surfaced in his mind.

’I wonder how Lady Elara is doing.’

The last time he had seen her was during her birthday celebration. Since then, they had never met again.

A faint smile appeared on his face as his eyes traveled toward the castle’s towers, drawing closer with every step.

He hoped she still remembered him.