As it turned out, Zelgadis got to see Rodimus-- and sometimes Zolf --more than he thought he would. Rodimus was actually one of the more trusted young men in the town, and Zera and Ladis hired him to watch Zelgadis while they worked. Ladis had always gone to work down at Market Square, but Zera decided that Zelgadis was old enough now, and she could go back to work as well.

So Rodimus would come over nearly every day. Sometimes Zolf came with him, but he was never any fun, because he was always grumbling about having to watch over kids when he could be out practicing magic, or down by Market Square. When that happened, Rodimus and Zolf would take Zelgadis down to Market Square with them.

Zelgadis grew to really like Rodimus, and wanted to be just like him when he grew up. He begged and begged his mom to let him grow a ponytail. Whenever he did, she always hit Ladis's head, and said, "You're having a bad influence on him. Cut it off!"

Zelgadis also wanted to be able to use magic, like Zolf, but he didn't want to wear those funny clothes, or so much jewelry, or that funny hat, and he didn't want to be mean and cross all the time. More like, he wanted to be Rodimus and still be able to use magic.

Even years later, Rodimus still came over to watch Zelgadis. When Zera and Ladis asked if they were asking too much of him, he answered saying he'd grown fond of Zelgadis, and liked hanging around with him. He said Zelgadis was different from most of the other kids in town, and he had fun watching him. Zolf would just grumble, and say he had better things to do. That's why he didn't get paid, and Rodimus did.

One day, when Zelgadis was about ten, he and Rodimus were just getting back from Market Square. There had been a play down there about a sorcerer and a swordsman who saved the world from a big, evil monster. All of it had been foretold in a prophecy of destruction. There were parts when Zelgadis got scared, and other parts where he sat on the edge of his seat in suspense. In the end, the heroes won, and the evil monster was gone forever.

Rodimus sat down on the couch once they were inside, and said, "That was some show."

"Yeah," Zelgadis said in agreement, sitting next to Rodimus.

Just then, his mother, Zera walked in the door, and said, "Hello, Zelly! Rod!"

"Hi, Mrs. Greywords," Rodimus called. He stood up, and walked over there. Zelgadis was still shocked to notice that Rodimus was taller than his mom.

"Here you go, Rod," Zera said, holding out his payment. "Now you skidadle so I can make dinner."

Rodimus grinned, and said, "Yes, Mrs. Greywords. See ya' around, Zel!" He waved, and then walked out of the house to the magic shop nearby where, no doubt, a very irate Zolf would be waiting.

"He's such a nice lad," Zera said as she scuttled to the kitchen. "Now, how about you set the table for me, Zelly?"

Zelgadis nodded, and jumped off the back of the couch, and darted over to the cabinet. "Don't drop them," Zera warned as Zelgadis slowly walked back to the table with the stack of plates and bowls. He set them out around the table, then dashed back for cups, and set those out as well. He made one last trip, and put the silverware all around.

Just as Zelgadis was finishing up, the door opened and Ladis walked in, smiling. "Hello, Zel," he said when he saw his kid. "What did you all do today?"

"We went to Market Square," Zelgadis said excitedly. "There was a really, really neat play about some cool heroes saving the world from a something-ed destruction and evil monsters and stuff!"

Ladis chuckled, and said, "Good going."

Just then, there was a loud crash from behind them. The three of them all turned around, and saw the wall had started to crack, like someone was beating on it. There was another crash, which shook the house, and that wall broke in, raising a cloud of dust. When the cloud cleared away, what was revealed scared Zelgadis straight to his bones.

There was a large monster standing in the hole it'd made through the wall. It was jet-black all over, with bright red eyes. Long fangs hung out of its mouth, dripping with yellow saliva. It's long, muscled arms ended in hands with dangerous-looking talons. It also had a long tail that resembled that of a lion's.

"Zera! You and Zel get back," Ladis shouted. He reached into the cabinet, and opened a drawer that Zelgadis didn't know was there. From it, he took out a two-handed broadsword with a brass handle. Zera grabbed Zelgadis, and backed up into the farthest corner, and Ladis stood in front of them protectively. As the monster stalked forward with heavy steps that shook the house, Zera hugged Zelgadis to her chest. Zelgadis was more scared than he'd ever been before in his life, and was trembling all over. Then he thought to himself, "I shouldn't be scared. Dad can beat it! Dad can do anything!"

Ladis held his sword ready as the beast got closer. But the monster had a longer reach, and swung out with one massive arm before he was close enough for Ladis to hit him. The force of the blow knocked Ladis across the room, into the wall.

"Dad!"

"Ladis!"

Ladis pushed himself into a sitting position, and looked over at Zera and Zelgadis. "You two stay there!" he told them. He tried to stand up again, but that hit had done more than he thought, and he just couldn't get enough strength to.

The monster stalked over to where Ladis sat prone on the ground. Ladis raised his sword in a futile attempt to block the coming blow, but it was no use. The monster's talons sliced through the sword, and through Ladis.

"LADIS! NO!!" Zera shouted. She ran away from Zelgadis, and hurried over to where Ladis was. The beast noticed her running, and turned to her. Before she could even reach her husband, the beast had swung his arm, and struck Zera with his powerful claws. Zera fell into a heap on the floor.

Zelgadis was in shock. He couldn't speak, he couldn't move. He was petrified with fear and horror. That beast had just killed his parents!! Suddenly, Zelgadis was filled with a rage he'd never experienced in his eight years of life. He ran across the room, ducking between the beast's legs, and grabbed his father's sword. He tried to lift it, but he couldn't. The sword was too heavy. Zelgadis was aware that the monster was closing in on him. He tried with all his strength to lift his father's sword, but he couldn't. He just couldn't. He wasn't strong enough.

The beast raised his clawed hand, and swung at Zelgadis. Quickly, Zelgadis dodged it, and stood with his back against the wall. What was he going to do? The monster's missed attack sent its hand through the wall, creating another large hole. The monster headed towards Zelgadis, its steps shaking the house from floor to ceiling. Just as Zelgadis was about to be struck by the monster, the ceiling caved in, falling on top of both Zelgadis and the monster, burying them in a pile of rubble.

The house was now nothing more than a pile of stone and wood, but it did not seem that way to anyone else. The shield around the house prevented anyone else from knowing the house had changed, or from hearing anything that had happened inside. Only one other person knew what had happened.

Rezo came up to the house, and put his hand flat against the invisible shield. He muttered something quietly, and there was a flash of bright light. The remains of the house were clearly visible. Slowly and calmly, Rezo walked towards the rubble.