I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Chapter 83: Judite’s fight

The match began. Garen charged. Mira retreated.

The tip of the spear touched his shoulder. A dry, swift strike, as fast as a hummingbird.

The boy frowned. He advanced again, faster this time.

The spear intercepted his path. The shaft struck his arm.

Again. The tip touched his leg. And again. The shaft struck his chest.

Lukas narrowed his eyes.

’She’s controlling the fight from a distance.’

Garen tried to get closer, but every attempt was thwarted. Every time he advanced, the spear was there. Every time he attacked, she responded first.

Mira maintained enough distance to attack. Far enough to avoid counterattacks.

The boy began to grow frustrated. His movements became more aggressive. Less precise. The axe cut through the air violently, but without direction.

Mira took advantage of it. The shaft of the spear struck Garen’s leg, a quick, precise blow to the side of the knee.

The boy lost his balance. He fell onto the marble floor.

Silence. Then...

"Victory to Lady Mira Volkar!"

Applause echoed through the hall, louder this time, more enthusiastic. freewёbnoνel.com

Marquis Volkar smiled discreetly, a glimmer of pride in his green eyes.

Lukas continued watching Mira.

’A spear really is efficient.’

He recalled the gift presented to Lady Elara. The small initiation spear.

’It’s not merely symbolic. There is a reason why armies use spears.’

Judite tugged at his sleeve.

"Lukas."

He turned toward his sister.

The girl was gripping her wooden sword tightly, her knuckles white from the force. Her face had gone pale.

"What if I forget something?"

Lukas looked at her.

The small hands. The blue ribbons in her hair. The obvious attempt to appear brave, chin raised, shoulders straight, yet her brown eyes betrayed her fear.

Despite everything... she feared her first battle.

’Just a child.’

And yet... she trained every day. She fell. She got back up. She tried again.

"You won’t forget." He replied.

Judite hesitated.

"How do you know?"

"Because you’ve trained hard."

The girl remained silent for a few seconds. Then she nodded.

Aurora gently adjusted one of the ribbons in her hair, smoothing the rebellious strands.

"Do your best."

Clavor crossed his arms.

"Control your breathing. Don’t rush."

Judite took a deep breath. Once. Twice. Three times.

Lukas watched her. His chest tightened slightly.

It was strange. He had been an adult in another life. He had never had siblings. He had never genuinely rooted for someone in this way.

But now... he wanted Judite to be happy. He wanted her to have fun. He wanted to see her smile by the end of the night.

The herald raised the staff once more.

"Third match!"

The hall fell silent. Judite stood up immediately. Her legs hesitated for only a second. Then they moved forward.

The wooden sword looked enormous in her small hands. Even so... she walked toward the arena. Without retreating.

Lady Elara leaned forward in her seat, her brown eyes shining with anticipation.

"Go, Judite!" The birthday girl whispered.

Count Hark remained silent. Watching. Clavor straightened his posture. Aurora folded her hands in her lap.

Lukas followed every step his sister took. The light-blue ribbons swayed behind her.

The little girl positioned herself in the center of the arena. She took a deep breath. Held the sword with both hands. Determined.

The herald opened the scroll before him.

"In the third match of this celebration..." His voice echoed.

"Lady Judite Dmond will face..."

A brief pause. The silence became absolute.

"Young Eliot Croven!"

A black-haired boy stepped forward.

His green eyes immediately settled upon Judite. He appeared confident. Perhaps overly confident.

He wielded a short wooden sword, longer than Judite’s, and his movements were fluid, natural.

Lukas noticed the small smile appearing on the boy’s face.

Eliot inclined his head slightly.

"I hope you don’t cry."

Judite widened her eyes. Then she crossed her arms.

"I don’t cry when I win."

A few laughs arose among the guests. Even Clavor seemed to suppress a smile.

Lukas observed Eliot. The boy was fast, it was clear from the way he moved.

Then he turned his attention back to Judite. freewēbnoveℓ.com

The little girl looked nervous. But not intimidated.

Lukas felt something different. Confidence.

Because he knew Judite. He knew her stubbornness. Her determination. Her pride. She would not give up easily.

The herald raised the staff once more.

"Participants, take your positions!"

Judite took a deep breath. Her eyes locked onto Eliot. Eliot raised his sword. The small smile still lingered on his lips.

The great hall of Castle Hark once again plunged into silence.

"Begin!"

Eliot moved first. Fast.

Faster than any child his age should have been. His feet slid across the polished marble as the wooden sword sliced through the air in a diagonal strike.

’Clack!’

Judite blocked.

The sound of wood striking wood echoed throughout the hall. She stepped back once, but she did not fall. She did not avert her gaze.

Eliot attacked again. A lateral strike. Then another. Then a third.

’Clack! Clack! Clack!’

The attacks were swift. Precise. Eliot had clearly trained for years.

But Judite had as well.

She couldn’t counterattack. Eliot gave her no opening. Every time she tried to raise her sword for a strike, he was already attacking again.

’He’s forcing her onto the defensive.’ Lukas thought.

’He wants her to tire out.’

But Judite did not tire. Her eyes remained focused. Her teeth clenched. Her hands firm upon the sword.

’Clack!’

’Clack!’

’Clack!’

The guests began whispering. The speed of the two children was surprising for ones so young.

"They’re fast." Someone commented.

"The Croven family has always trained their children from an early age to be swift."

"But the Dmond girl is keeping up."

Eliot frowned. He had not expected her to endure this long. He attacked with greater force.

’CRACK!’

The strike was heavier. Judite retreated two steps, nearly losing her balance.

Eliot advanced confidently. And it was at that moment that Judite moved. She did not retreat.

She spun. The movement was swift, a lateral evasion Eliot had not anticipated. His sword passed by the side of her face.

And Judite attacked. The wooden sword touched Eliot’s shoulder.

One point. Silence.

Eliot’s eyes widened.

"What...?"

Judite did not wait. She advanced.

Now she was the one attacking. Strike after strike. Fast. Surgical precision.

’Clack! Clack! Clack!’

Eliot retreated. His smile had vanished completely.

Lukas’ eyes shone.

’She’s using his own exhaustion against him.’

Eliot had spent too much energy during his initial assaults. Judite had conserved her strength. Waited. And now... she attacked.

Eliot’s sword flew from his hand, spinning through the air before striking the floor with a metallic sound. Even though it was made of wood, the impact echoed.

Disarmament.

Judite pointed the tip of her sword toward Eliot’s chest.

"Surrender."

The boy opened his mouth. Closed it.

"I surrender."

"Victory to Lady Judite Dmond!"

The hall erupted into applause.

These were not polite applauses. They were genuine. Surprised.

Count Hark raised an eyebrow, a minimal gesture, almost imperceptible. The judges exchanged glances.

"A Dmond." Murmured the former military instructor, his eyes shining.

"Their swordsmanship technique comes from an ancient lineage."

"The Dmond family has always produced great warriors." Added the captain of the guard.

"The girl is fast. And intelligent."

Lukas heard the comments and smiled.

Judite exited the arena with her face flushed with excitement.

The wooden sword was still in her hand, but she seemed to have forgotten she was carrying it. Her eyes sparkled. Her breathing remained uneven.

She ran. Straight toward Lukas.

"I WON!" She shouted, throwing herself into his arms.

The impact nearly knocked him from the chair. Lukas laughed, embracing her in return.

"Congratulations, Judite."

She hugged him tightly.

"I won! Did you see? He was faster, but I waited! I knew he would get tired! And then I attacked!"

"I saw."

"He said I was going to cry! And I won!"

Lukas laughed again.

"You won."

Judite pulled away, her eyes shining with relief and pride.

"Now I’m going to win all the next battles!"

She lifted her chin, determined.

The small flushed face. The blue ribbons are swaying. The sword was still firmly in her hand.

Aurora approached.

"My pride and joy." She whispered, kissing her daughter’s forehead.

Clavor merely nodded, but his smile was enormous.

The girl’s smile illuminated the hall.

She was ready. More than ready. Excited for the battles yet to come.