By the time Zelgadis was five, his mother's want became reality. In fact, she sometimes wished he'd stay still for a few moments. He was constantly out and about, half the time not even telling her or Ladis when or where he was going, who he was going with, and when he'd be back. Zelgadis would just disappear for a few hours, and come back later as rambunctious as ever.

One day, shortly after breakfast, Zelgadis did it again. He made sure his parents were occupied, and crept over to the door. After stepping into his boots, he slipped out the door, closing it quietly behind him.

Once outside, Zelgadis started running around, spinning in circles, and admiring everything around him. Everything fascinated him in the town they were in. There were stores with weird things in the windows, and bakers with really good-smelling pastries sitting out to cool. But most of all, he loved going to Market Square.

Market Square was the busiest place in town, because that's where everything happened. There were plays and sorcerers and witches and merchants and trading carts and tournaments and everything you could possibly think of. Zelgadis couldn't go down there often because it was so crowded, but when he did go, he always had lots of fun.

Zelgadis looked up as he walked, and tried to imagine what the clouds would be if they were animals. He'd just about decided a lumpy cloud right there would be a rabbit, when he stepped on his shoelace, and rumbled forward. He couldn't react quick enough to catch himself, and therefor was beat up pretty badly. He had a red mark from his forehead to his nose, his elbows were scraped, and he'd skinned his knees.

Crying, Zelgadis pushed himself up into a sitting position, completely unaware that he was sitting in the middle of a cobbled street. He sniffled a few times, still crying, and looked down at his scrapes, and carefully touched the sore spot on his nose. He winced, and started crying again.

Slowly, Zelgadis looked down at his boots. He didn't know how to tie laces yet, and he couldn't have asked his mother to do it for him, or else he wouldn't have been able to go out. He stopped bawling, but tears still flowed, and he made a grab for the laces of one boot. He took hold of one lace in each hand, and pulled them tight. Then he focused all his attention on trying to figure out how to tie laces.

Along the street behind Zelgadis came charging a riderless horse, heading straight for the unknowing five-year-old. The horse tossed his head angrily, and huffed through his nose. Its eyes had a strange glint to them, and spittle was dribbling out of its mouth.

Zelgadis was concentrating solely on his shoes, and was completely unaware that there was danger nearby. He poked one lace through a circle he'd made with the two, and pulled it tight. He grinned widely with his success. That was always the way his mother had started out by tying shoes. Now, how did the rest go...

The mad horse behind Zelgadis didn't let up or slow down. Its hoofs pounded on the cobbled street as it ran directly towards the child. It was ten feet away, now. Five feet. Three feet. Just as Zelgadis was about to be clobbered into the cobble, someone reached over, grabbed the strap of his overalls, and pulled him away. The horse flew by without any notice, stampeding down the street.

Zelgadis was in shock. For a moment, he just stared after the horse, before he remembered that someone had helped him. He looked up, and found two boys standing in front of him.

The first boy was really near-on fifteen years old. He had sea-green hair of which only his bangs showed from under a three-level hat. He looked really irritated, too. He wore a tight black shirt, with a much looser one over top it, and tight black pants, with loose capri-length pants over them. He had several wire bracelets around his wrists, and a pentagram necklace around his neck. Zelgadis noticed that his shoes didn't have laces, but buckles. Why couldn't he have shoes like that?

The second boy was older than the first, but not by a whole lot-- he was maybe twenty. His hair was straight and blonde, with bangs that nearly fell into his eyes. It was pulled into a ponytail in the back, so you could see his golden hoop earring. Zelgadis suddenly decided he wanted to grow a ponytail, like his dad and this boy. The boy had on a loose fighter's tunic with a sash at his waist, and loose-fitting pants that tucked into his boots at the shin. When Zelgadis noticed his boots had buckles, too, he determined that he'd get buckle-up boots too.

"You okay, kid?" the second boy asked, concerned. He knelt down in front of Zelgadis, and that's when the child saw the sword strapped to his back. Then and there, Zelgadis told himself he wanted to use a sword, too. "You should be more careful."

When all Zelgadis did was stare in awe back at him, the boy chuckled. "Kids," he said, shaking his head. "By the way, my name's Rodimus, but everyone around here calls me Rod. That grouch up there"--he pointed over his shoulder at the green-haired boy--"is Zolf."

"I'm not a grouch," Zolf protested, crossing his arms and frowning.

Zelgadis almost laughed, but covered his mouth to stifle it. "Um... I'm Zelgadis, but everybody calls me Zel, 'cause my name's too long."

Rodimus laughed again, and stood up, offering a hand to Zelgadis. Without hesitating, Zelgadis took it, and he was hauled to his feet. "Say, kid," Rodimus said. "Where'd you get scratched up like that?"

"I tripped on my shoelaces..." Zelgadis said, looking down at his still untied boots.

After shrugging, Rodimus knelt down again, and laced up and tied Zelgadis's boots tightly. "Zolf, can you help him out a bit?"

Zolf crossed his arms again, and turned to the side. "I don't want to help some kid. I've got places to go. Money to spend. Can't we just leave?"

Rodimus stood up, and faced Zolf. "Look, he's a kid. Help him out, okay?"

"I don't want to help him because he's a kid. This is wasting our time. Let's go!" Zolf protested.

Zelgadis stared up at the two of them. They seemed like friends, but why were they arguing like that? And how would that Zolf guy help him?

In one quick movement, Rodimus darted out and snatched Zolf's hat. Zolf shouted protest, and reached for it, but Rodimus held it above his reach. "Help the kid," Rodimus said. "And you get it back."

"Fine!" Zolf said, glaring at Rodimus. Then he turned angrily to Zelgadis, and knelt down to be on a more even level. "Recovery," he snarled. A white light glowed from his hand, and Zelgadis got all tingly all over.

It hit Zelgadis abruptly. That was magic! He knew right then and there that he wanted to do magic some day, too.

"There," Zolf said, standing up again. "Now gimme my hat back!"

Rodimus shrugged, and said, "Here you go-- wait!" Just as Zolf made a grab for it, Rodimus pulled it back away again. "Hey, kid, you wanna go to Market Square tomorrow?"

"No he doesn't!" Zolf snapped. He jumped up, grabbed his hat away from Rodimus, and stalked away towards a shop with a pentagram sign hanging over it.

Shrugging, Rodimus said, "Sorry, kid. Maybe we'll see ya around... If Zolf cools down a bit." Then he waved, and followed Zolf into what was obviously a magic shop.

Zelgadis just stared a moment, and watched them go. Then he wondered what that spell had done. He looked all over himself, and didn't notice anyth-- Wait! His scrapes were all gone! Zelgadis touched his nose where it had been sore before, and it didn't hurt in the least.

Grinning, Zelgadis dashed back home. It was only then that he remembered he'd sneaked out again. He honestly hoped his parents wouldn't be too mad for disappearing again.