A Companion.

"Alexandro, how did you get a leopard, and it is even so obedient?" Lena asked as they walked to a cool place to sit. She was curious, first, he surprised her by bringing her to such a magical realm, and then, he suddenly had a leopard as a pet? What else could be hidden in the place, mermaids? 

"I found it a few years ago, it was a cub then. I don't know how it wandered off from its family and appeared here. It accompanied me while I watch it grow and we became close. Thankfully, it is a self-reliant and independent beast making it easy for me to always leave it behind here" Alexandro voiced.