I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Chapter 93: Returning Home (2)

By the end of the afternoon... Dmond Mansion appeared on the horizon.

Lukas felt his heart warm.

The familiar gray stone walls, covered with moss in some places, stained by rain and sunlight.

The gardens, the tall trees, the flower beds, the fountain at the center.

The trees, the ancient oaks, the walnut trees, the small apple trees that Helga cared for so lovingly.

His home.

The carriage passed through the gates.

Servants immediately approached, hurrying forward to welcome them.

"Welcome back!"

Judite jumped out of the carriage first, so quickly that Aurora barely had time to warn her to be careful.

Lukas climbed down shortly afterward.

The box containing Astra remained carefully cradled in his arms.

He did not even wait for the servants to unload the luggage. He headed directly toward the gardens.

He whistled softly.

A low, familiar sound that he used to call Tilbo during training days.

Silence.

Judite approached, curious.

"Do you think they’ll show up?"

Lukas smiled.

"Definitely."

The leaves of the bushes began to move, a tremor spreading through the branches, the green leaves swaying as though an invisible breeze had passed through them.

Branches shook, not because of the wind, but because of something moving among them.

Then... Tilbo appeared.

Lukas blinked. The ant had grown again.

At least forty centimeters. Its metallic body now measured nearly half a meter in length, an imposing creature with a glossy black carapace that reflected sunlight in silver and bluish hues.

Its antennae moved frantically, catching his scent, his presence.

For an instant... Tilbo froze. As though it could not believe it. Then, it ran.

Lukas barely had time to react.

The enormous ant climbed his clothes with surprising delicacy, its legs gripping the fabric without tearing it, its body moving with an agility that contrasted with its size.

Its antennae touched his cheeks. His neck. His hair.

Lukas began to laugh.

"I missed you too."

Tilbo rubbed its antennae against his head, a gesture Lukas already knew well. Like a hug.

Judite smiled broadly.

"She missed you!"

But at that moment... a startled chirp echoed out. Astra had awakened.

The little eagle’s golden eyes immediately locked onto the gigantic ant. Her feathers bristled. She opened her beak. She tried to lunge forward.

Lukas quickly protected the box, placing himself between the two creatures.

"Easy."

Tilbo halted all movement. Its antennae lowered. Confused.

Lukas stroked Astra’s feathers.

"It’s alright."

The little eagle still seemed suspicious, her body tense, her eyes fixed on Tilbo, her talons gripping the fabric lining the box.

Tilbo approached slowly. Moving carefully. Without aggression.

Its antennae pointed toward the little eagle, but without tension.

Astra hesitated. Lukas continued petting her.

"Tilbo won’t hurt you."

After a few seconds... the eagle relaxed.

Her body remained alert, but the panic had disappeared from her eyes.

Tilbo brought its antennas closer. It carefully touched the edge of the box. Then retreated.

As though greeting the new member. Satisfied, the ant climbed back onto Lukas.

Settling near his shoulder, its usual place.

Lukas gently stroked its carapace.

"You’re still the same."

Judite watched in fascination.

"Did they become friends?"

"I think so. For now."

At that moment... something silently descended from a nearby tree.

It was Prata.

Lukas raised his eyes.

The spider seemed somewhat larger as well. Its body now measured nearly thirty centimeters in diameter, and its long legs stretched in every direction like the rays of a black star.

Its white hairs reflected the sunlight, dense and gleaming, like threads of silver woven across its dark carapace.

It stopped. Observed Lukas. Observed Tilbo. Observed Astra.

Silence.

Then... it turned away.

And continued working on its web. As though none of it were particularly important.

Judite placed her hands on her hips.

"Prata!"

No reaction.

"Your brother came back!"

Prata completely ignored her.

Lukas started laughing.

"She’s still the same. She only comes when she wants to."

Tilbo touched its antennae against his neck. Astra observed everything attentively. Prata continued weaving.

Judite remained indignant.

Aurora appeared on the mansion’s veranda. Watching her children.

A gentle smile appeared on her face, the smile of someone seeing her family reunited. Clavor stepped beside her.

The two remained silent for several seconds. Then Clavor crossed his arms.

"Welcome home."

Lukas turned his eyes toward his three companions.

Tilbo, the metallic ant, protective and loyal, always on his shoulder.

Prata, the silent spider, independent, who showed affection in her own way.

Astra, the injured little eagle, who had trusted him and was now part of his life.

Then he looked toward his family.

The celebration. The tournament. Castle Hark. The books.

Everything felt distant now. Yet important. Very important.

He had met new friends. Hark and his daughter.

Discovered new places. The castle.

Experienced new things.

And yet...

Nothing changed the feeling that arose in that moment.

Home.

Lukas crouched beside the box.

Astra tilted her head slightly, her golden eyes fixed on him.

Tilbo settled comfortably upon his shoulder, its metallic body warm against his skin.

Prata remained upon her web, her legs motionless, but Lukas felt that she was listening.

Judite sat down on the grass beside him, her legs stretched out, her eyes shining.

"I think our family got bigger."

Lukas looked at the three animals. Then smiled.

"I think so."

Judite broke into a huge grin.

The afternoon wind swept through the gardens of Dmond Mansion.

The trees swayed gently. The sky was beginning to take on golden hues.

Lukas closed his eyes for a few seconds.

When he opened them again...

He felt at peace.

That world was still vast. Full of mysteries. Filled with dangers.

But he was happy to be there.

Books waiting to be read. Animals waiting to be known. Places waiting to be explored.

Lukas gently stroked Astra’s head.

Then Tilbo’s carapace.

Finally, he raised his eyes toward Prata.

The enormous spider remained indifferent.

But Lukas would have sworn that one of her legs moved slightly in his direction.

Perhaps... just perhaps...

That was also Prata’s way of saying that she had missed him.

Lukas smiled. He had returned home.