I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Chapter 92: Returning Home

Dawn over the Great Rock was silent.

Lukas stood motionless before the bedroom window, watching the first rays of sunlight spread across the horizon. The sky was taking on soft shades of gold and orange, slowly dispersing the darkness of the early morning. The clouds, thin and elongated, resembled brushstrokes of paint across an immense parchment.

Down below, Castle Hark was already awake.

Servants crossed the inner courtyard carrying chests and luggage, their hurried footsteps echoing against the stone. Horses were being brushed and prepared for the road, manes combed, hooves inspected, and saddles adjusted.

Ornate carriages waited before the gates, while coachmen inspected wheels and harnesses with experienced eyes.

The celebration had ended.

The great hall, once filled with music, laughter, and influential nobles, now existed only as a recent memory. The tapestries still hung from the walls, but the tables were empty. The candles in the chandeliers had burned down completely. Silence had replaced the commotion.

Beside him, Astra remained asleep inside the improvised padded box. The little eagle breathed peacefully, her brown feathers rising and falling in a serene rhythm. The bird’s chest moved in gentle waves, and her beak was slightly open.

Lukas smiled.

"Today we’re going home."

The small creature moved her head slightly in her sleep, as if she had heard.

Behind him, Judite was still sleeping soundly, wrapped in blankets like a caterpillar about to transform into a butterfly. Only the top of her head was visible, her brown hair spread across the pillow.

Aurora was already awake.

"Good morning, Lukas," she said softly, arranging clothes on a chair.

"Good morning, Mother."

"Let’s get ready. Your father is already awake."

Lukas nodded.

A short time later, the Dmond family walked through the castle corridors toward the hall where breakfast would be served.

The corridors were emptier than on previous days. All the guests had already departed, the carriages Lukas had seen from the window were now gone, and the courtyard was nearly empty.

The tapestries still hung from the walls, but they seemed less vibrant without the candlelight and the presence of the nobles.

When they entered the smaller hall, the same one where they had dined the previous night, Elara was already seated.

The moment she spotted Judite, she broke into a huge smile.

"Judite!"

"Elara!"

The two girls ran toward each other, meeting in the middle of the hall. They embraced with the energy of those who had become friends in a short time yet already considered that friendship important.

Lukas watched the scene while carefully placing Astra’s box beside his chair.

Count Hark was already present, seated at the head of the table. The man raised his eyes toward them.

"Clavor."

"Hark."

The two exchanged a firm handshake, the gesture of warriors who respected one another.

Aurora politely greeted the count before everyone took their seats.

Breakfast passed peacefully.

Judite described, for the tenth time, her victory over Eliot Croven. Her arms moved through the air, imitating the strikes she had delivered.

"And then I dodged like this!" she demonstrated, quickly twisting her body.

"And then I disarmed him!"

Elara listened with fascination, her brown eyes glued to her friend.

"You were amazing!"

"Next time, I’m going to win the entire tournament!"

"Then I’ll train too!" Elara declared, slamming her hand onto the table with determination.

Clavor let out a brief laugh.

"Just try not to destroy the castle during training."

Aurora sighed.

"Please."

...

The meal ended shortly afterward.

Outside, the Dmond carriage was already prepared.

The chests had been loaded, carefully stacked, and secured with thick ropes. The horses waited patiently, their manes shining beneath the morning sun.

It was time to say goodbye.

Elara accompanied the family to the castle’s main entrance.

For the first time since Lukas had met her, she seemed genuinely sad.

Her fingers tightly gripped the hem of her blue dress, twisting the fabric into little knots.

Judite hugged her immediately.

"I’ll come back!"

"Okay!" Elara replied, her voice slightly strained.

"And we’ll fight when that happens!"

"Right, I’ll win!"

"No way!"

The two immediately began arguing about future battles, who would train more, who would become stronger, and who would win the next tournament.

Lukas approached quietly.

Elara turned toward him.

"Will you come back?"

Lukas remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he raised his eyes toward the castle.

Toward the towers, tall and pointed, with banners fluttering in the wind.

Toward the walls, thick and imposing, covered with moss in certain places.

Toward the enormous library hidden somewhere within those corridors, with its endless shelves, ancient books, and scent of paper and ink.

A gleam appeared in his violet eyes.

"There are still all the books here that need to be read."

Elara blinked. Then she smiled.

"Then you’ll come back."

"Yes."

Count Hark approached.

In his hands, he carried a small plaque of polished dark wood with rounded edges.

The symbol of House Hark was engraved upon its surface, a mountain crowned by an eagle with outstretched wings, the silver details shining beneath the light.

"Show this to the guards when you come here to study."

Lukas’ eyes widened.

"Really?"

"As long as you don’t try to take half the library with you."

Lukas became completely serious.

"I promise to try."

For a few seconds, Hark simply observed the boy, those violet eyes, that determination, that unexpected answer.

Then, surprisingly, he smiled.

"Take good care of the little eagle."

Lukas nodded immediately.

"I will."

Clavor approached.

"It’s time."

Everyone boarded the carriage. Elara remained outside.

Waving.

Judite stuck half her body out of the window, her brown hair flying in the wind, her smile enormous.

"BYE!"

"Bye!"

The carriage began to move.

The Great Rock gradually fell behind.

Castle Hark became smaller and smaller, first an imposing silhouette against the sky, then a gray blur, and then only a dot on the horizon.

Until it disappeared completely among the curves of the mountain.

Lukas continued looking through the window for several more minutes.

It did not feel like a farewell. Only a see-you-soon.

The journey continued peacefully.

Green fields replaced the stone walls, golden wheat fields swaying in the wind, and gray-fleeced sheep grazing upon gentle hills.

Small villages appeared along the road, wooden cottages with thatched roofs, barefoot children running, peasants bent over the soil.

Dmond guards patrolled the roads, recognizing the carriage and nodding respectfully.

Judite eventually fell asleep on Aurora’s shoulder, exhaustion from all the excitement finally overcoming her. Her mouth was slightly open, and a small strand of drool ran down her chin.

Clavor carefully observed his territory from horseback, his eyes sweeping across the trees, the fields, and the horizon.

Lukas remained beside Astra.

The little eagle woke several times during the journey. She accepted small pieces of meat offered by Lukas, taking tiny bites, careful not to injure her beak. She drank a little water from a small bowl that he held firmly.

And returned to resting.