Information

Zadek
Legacy Name: Zadek

The Nuclear Velosotor
Owner: Fyreheart

Age: 13 years, 2 weeks, 4 days

Born: April 7th, 2011

Adopted: 13 years, 2 weeks, 4 days ago

Adopted: April 7th, 2011

Statistics

• Level: 111
   
• Strength: 278
   
• Defense: 278
   
• Speed: 276
   
• Health: 277
   
• HP: 275/277
   
• Intelligence: 41
   
• Books Read: 41
• Food Eaten: 27
• Job: Unemployed

Full Name: Zadek Lucas Camden
Nicknames: Zed, Z, Dek-Dek
Age: 28
Height: 6ft. 2in.
Weight: 178lbs.
Occupation: Computer Programmer
Interests/Hobbies: Gaming, sci-fi & fantasy books, Star Wars, some sketching

The light from the TV illuminated the bedroom and cast dark shadows on the walls. Zadek sat cross-legged on the floor, XBox controller in hand. He had been playing Halo for the past 4 hours with friends in St. Petersburg, Rio de Janero, Ottawa and Liverpool.

He glanced up at the clock on his nightstand. 2:17am. It was getting late and he had to be at work at 7:00.

"Hey, guys," he spoke into the microphone on his headset. "I better get off for tonight. Later."

His comrades returned goodbyes and he logged off. As he reached for the switch on the console a tiny ball of fur wriggled in his lap. Zadek's pet rabbit Fidget stirred but did not wake. He had learned over time how to sleep through his master's late-night LAN parties.

Zadek smiled and gently scooped Fidget in his hands and placed him in his cage. He closed the door but didn't bother locking it. Fidget had somehow figured out how to undo the latch and often roamed the small apartment as he pleased. He never chewed on anything or made a mess so Zadek didn't bother fixing it. He did often catch the black rabbit in odd places at times. He had found him on the kitchen counter, a window sill and even the top of the bookshelf. How the tiny lagomorph got up there was anyone's guess.

With a sigh and a yawn Zadek switched off the television and fell onto the bed without even bothering to remove his socks. He expected to fall asleep quickly.

But he didn't. No matter what position he tried he stayed as awake as he had been while playing his game. He couldn't understand. He hadn't had any energy drinks or caffeine in his diet since the morning before. This wasn't normal for him.

Zadek's eyes wandered around the room not looking at anything in particular. Posters, game guides, toys and various other gaming paraphernalia were arranged in a random yet tidy fashion on shelves, many of which were gifts from friends, family or girlfriends past. The beady eyes of dolls he won at a recent convention stared blankly at the Final Fantasy VI poster hanging on the wall across from them. Action figures stood frozen on their pedestals, locked in immortal combat.

Exhaling deeply he turned his head and stared out the window next to his bed. Even in the city he had a good view of the starry sky. A sliver of a moon barely penetrated the edge of the window. Perhaps counting a few stars would help him drift off. As his eyes wandered from one heavenly body to another a sudden flash caught his eye. A shooting star and a bright one at that. How odd that such a thing could be seen in the city.

As the meteor faded from sight Zadek gave a faint smile. Seeing it reminded him of his grandmother. His Mamaw. She had to have been the most influential person in his life. It was she that made his life interesting. At least, moreso than it already was.

Zadek had always been an odd child. Things just seemed to...happen around him. Like when he was four and he was trying to grab a crayon that had rolled underneath the couch. As he reached for it it rolled back to him like a puppy returning to its master.

Or when he was twelve and he had come in from playing baseball with his friends. They had been pestering him for lemonade but there was none in the house. Zadek filled the glasses with ice-water hoping his friends would be happy with whatever cold drink he offered. But when they thanked him for the "best lemonade ever" he thought they were teasing him. That is, until he took a sip himself.

And then there was Fidget. Zadek was fifteen when he found the black baby rabbit sitting in the middle of the sidewalk as he returned home from school. It was as though he had been waiting for him. Zadek took him home and cared for him despite his mother's protests. Fidget rarely left his master's side since that time on.

Of course, he told his mother about all the strange things that happened to him over the course of his life. But she took it with a grain of salt and waved them off as coincidence or the boy's vivid imagination.

Only Mamaw believed him. As ashamed as he was to admit it, he often preferred her to his birth mother. Mamaw was always available to babysit when her daughter had to work to support them. Her encouragement and love could never be put into question. She even played with Fidget whenever she got the chance. Sometimes Zadek would catch her whispering things into the bunny's ear like a giddy teenager sharing secrets with her girlfriend.

But the best thing about her was her stories. Her tales of myth and fantasy were far better than any world-class author. Every night Zadek would beg her to spin a yarn or two before bed. And she was more than willing to do so until her voice was hoarse. His favorite was about the great wizard Zadek that saved the world of Arc from the evil demon Castos. And she spoke of the star maidens, beautiful enchantresses that flew across the night sky on their magic steeds carrying the wishes of mortals.

On his twenty-first birthday Mamaw handed him a small ornate box with what looked like elaborate runes carved into its sides. "You will open it when the time is right" she had told him.

Three days later she passed away. It was the saddest moment in Zadek's life.

"Dek-Dek."

The sound caused Zadek to snap out of his memories. He turned over and glanced at the clock. Only 3:09. How was he not asleep yet?

"Dek-Dek!"

Zadek sat up. Only Mamaw called him Dek-Dek. Or rather, she was the only one he allowed.

Who's voice was that? It sounded like a small child. But there were no kids on his floor and none wandering the streets outside his window.

"DEK-DEK!"

The sudden yell made Zadek jump. His eyes followed the direction the voice had come from. Nothing seemed amiss. No one was in the room with him. Except for Fidget who was sitting in the middle on the bedroom floor glaring at him with paws on his hips.

"About time!" The ebony rabbit huffed impatiently.

Zadek blinked. This had to be a dream.

"Finally!" Fidget yelled as if getting used to his own voice. "It has been quite a challenge holding my tongue for all these years!"

"Uh...huh..." Zadek managed to squeak as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. He could swear he could see Fidget smiling at him in the darkness.

"Don't be sarcastic." scolded Fidget. "Your grandmother entrusted me with this task and I fully intend to carry it out."

"Task? You mean scaring the crap out of me in the middle of the night?"

Fidget giggled. "No, silly! I am to tell you a very special secret." He leaned forward for effect. "Dek-Dek, you're a WIZARD!"

"I'm a what now?" Zadek ran his hand through his neon-green-streaked black hair. "You can't be serious. A talking rabbit just told me I'm an all-powerful wizard. I must be losing it."

"I never said 'all-powerful'" Fidget mused.

"Whatever." Zadek hissed trying to keep his temper. "You can't seriously expect me to believe any of this. For all I know I'm dreaming this whole thing!"

Fidget looked insulted. "This is no dream!" Then in a calmer voice he asked "Do you remember all the strange things that happened to you as a child? Or the stories about Zadek the wizard and the world of Arc? The stories your Mamaw would tell you every night?"

"Of course I do. But that's all they were. Just stories. She made them up and made me the star for the fun of it! And all that crap that happened to me as a kid was just me playing around. My imagination or whatever."

Fidget calmly listened to Zadek's rant. "But, Dek-Dek, it was YOU that caused all those strange things to happen. Don't you see? You were born with the gift of magic!"

Zadek thought for a moment. In hindsight it did make some sense.

"And all those stories your Mamaw told you weren't about you! Zadek was also your grandfather's name!"

"What?" Zadek had always wondered about the origin of his unusual name and he had never known his grandfather. Neither his mom nor his Mamaw seemed eager to talk about him. Too painful Zadek assumed.

Fidget continued. "Your grandfather was the wizard that sealed away the demon Castos that threatened the world of Arc. Soon after, he married your grandmother and the two of them left that world for this one." Fidget's ears twitched with excitement. "Dek-Dek, you inherited your grandfather's powers! You possess powerful magic and must learn to use it properly." He smiled as well as a rabbit can smile. "That is why I'm here! I was sent to this world to teach you how to use the magic given to you."

Zadek listened intently to the rabbit's story. It all seemed too unreal. But it was real. This was actually happening here and now. It was starting to make sense. The stories Mamaw told in such detail he felt that he was there, the incidents that were too perfect to be mere coincidence, his unusually close bond with Fidget. All the pieces were fitting together.

"Ok, let's say I do have these powers. What am I to do with them? Why should I take precious time out of my life to learn magic I probably won't ever use?"

Fidget's ears suddenly drooped and his violet eyes glistened with tears.

"Because the evil is returning." He shuddered. "I can feel it and your grandmother felt it. It's why you must master your magic as soon as possible!" Fidget regained his composure and asked "Do you still have the box Mamaw gave you?"

Without a word Zadek stood up and began rummaging through the drawer on his nightstand until he pulled out the tiny box. He turned to face the bunny but he wasn't in his usual spot. Instead, he was headfirst digging around his cage until he found what he was looking for. Carrying something in his paws he hopped over to Zadek and offered him a small metallic item. It was a key decorated with the same mystical markings as the box. The ancient-looking designs began to glow an unearthly shade of blue that pulsated as the two objects neared each other like two hearts beating in complete sync.

"This key will open the box your grandmother gave to you. Inside is an amulet that will enhance and help you focus your powers."

Zadek's eyes danced from the box to the key and back again several times. Suddenly he dropped both gifts onto the bed.

"No. Just...just no." He stood up and began to pace like a nervous tiger in a cage. "I mean, I can't be a wizard. Not for real."

Fidget watched the young man as he circled the perimeter of the bedroom.

"I...I'm only a wizard in games. In role-play. That's IT! I cast fake spells like Magic Missile to defeat monsters and demons made of pixels and code." He plopped back down onto his mattress and buried his face in his hands. "I...I can't do this. There's just no way I can do this."

There was a gentle pressure on his right foot. Zadek peaked between his fingers and saw Fidget sitting on the arch of his foot. His large eyes stared at him with more compassion than he had seen in most humans.

"You won't be alone, Dek-Dek. I'll be with you all the way. And Mamaw too."

"Mamaw...?"

Fidget stood up on his hind legs and pressed a fore-paw against Zadek's ankle in comfort.

"She foresaw this day, you know. She knew this was your destiny. She is counting on you as much as the people of Arc are." Fidget leaned closer. "If not more-so."

That struck a nerve causing Zadek to sit up. Visions of Mamaw's kindly, wrinkled old face flashed through his mind. Disappointing her was always one of his greatest fears.

A heavy sigh escaped his lungs as he picked up the magical box and its key and stared at them for what felt like forever. Their resonating lights continued to gently keep time with one another. Zadek could nearly swear they were following the rhythm of his own heartbeat. It was almost soothing.

What was he to do? It all seemed so fantastically surreal.

"It's your choice really." Fidget mumbled, turning away sadly. "You don't have to believe me. You probably still think you're dreaming. If you decide not to retain your birthright then return the key to me and you'll lose all memory of what transpired this night. But," He raised his head with hopeful anticipation. "if you accept it you'll be able to do things you've only imagined and save a people that desperately need you."

Pursing his lips nervously, Zadek eyed the glowing trinkets in his hands then looked into the eyes of his faithful companion. Maybe this was all a dream. Even a dream can claim it's not right? But what if it were true? What if there was some horrible demonic being with it's heart set on destroying an entire planet? Even if he was to forget it all, how could he live with himself if he allowed such a thing to happen? What would Mamaw think?

He pushed the key into the lock and gave it a turn...

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