The crowd fell silent when Ziro and Nick had finally materialized in the wide center of the field. The only thing that could be heard was the faint rustle of Riviam Point's prolific tree leaves. Ziro and Nick were locked in a stock-still, unvoiced stare-down, with Nick grinning up a storm, and Ziro sporting a damnable look in return.

And then-

Ziro moved first, unsheathing Necrodian with a masterly draw. Its freshly honed blade and striking gleam had not gone unnoticed as raucous sounds of amazement ensued from the crowd. Though Alex had already witnessed Necrodian numerous times whenever he'd sparred with Ziro and Carsyn, he still found himself marveling at the exceptionally crafted weapon every time.

Nick went next, drawing his long-sword with an adroit pull. Its white blade and silver hilt sent the crowd into an audible bout of euphoric wonderment. Nick's grin grew wider, seemingly assuming himself winner of the un-official opening round.

Ziro made no changes in his own expression, instead readying himself in an offensive stance with Necrodian: body turned facing the crowd; legs spread apart, and Necrodian held up horizontally by his face — both his gaze and the blade aimed at Nick.

With a taunting chuckle, Nick got into position as well: legs spread apart still facing Ziro, and the long-sword held up in front of him with both hands grasping the hilt.

Ziro scantily glanced over to where the group stood together and gave a sole terse nod before shifting his gaze back to Nick. Alex looked around at each member of the group, confused at whatever had just happened, but then his eyes landed on Carsyn as she pulled a metal whistle from under her shirt collar. A wicked grin of her own inched onto her lips before slipping the whistle past them and sounding a shrill battle cry.

This time it was Nick who moved first, and the crowd roared as he darted straight for Ziro. The long-sword was still angled in front of him, until he heaved it upward and brought it down with stark force over Ziro.

But Ziro quickly pivoted, shifting his body and feet back around, one leg bent forward and part of Necrodian's blade grasped in his free hand, immediately positioned as a guard against Nick's incoming attack. The onyx of Necrodian's blade and the white metal of the long-sword clashed for the upper-hand, resulting in an unbearable sound of friction that forced all in the crowd to clench their ears.

Even through the rasping, Ziro could still hear Nick's vexing laugh. Finally he gained momentum, shoving Nick away and leaving him stumbling backwards. Ziro lunged at a blinding speed, ready to swing Necrodian for a strike, but Nick regained his balance then, readying his long-sword in front for defense, successfully but barely blocking Ziro.

The two blades clanged and crashed repeatedly between each other, neither side appearing to get any leverage over the other. Then Nick swerved, allowing him to dodge Ziro's blade. He crouched before pivoting on his left hand and foot to swing his body around with the long-sword, and used the flat side of the blade to slam against Ziro's ankle, sending him tumbling to the ground and Necrodian falling from from his grip.

Numerous gasps erupted throughout the crowd, but they were soon followed by blaring cheers for Nick. The group watched with a strained silence as Ziro cradled the back of his head with one hand, while trying to reach for Necrodian with the other.

Lev shifted on his feet, more tense with flow of the match than perhaps anyone else there. Nick had used a move that he had taught him last spring when they had sparred together, the same move Ziro had taught him a few years ago. Alex noticed Lev's now rigid mood, and he ached to hold his hand to alleviate it, but Lev's crossed-armed posture was supplying no opportunity to do so.

Alex gave up on the gesture, ready to slink his hands behind his back to shield them from further disregard, but then another hand reached over to grab one of Alex's before he could withdraw them from sight. He glanced upwards and was first met with the bright light of the sun, before Lev's face became visible. Lev didn't smile, but he gave Alex a look that assured him hand-holding was exactly what he needed.

As their hands hugged tighter, a thunderous bout of hurrah sounded off, and they looked over to see that the source was none other than the rest of the group. Both their eyes jumped back to the center field, where they saw Ziro back on his feet and Necrodian back in his hand. Nick had tried to strike him while he was down, but Ziro had swiftly rolled out of the way and swiped Necrodian back into his grasp.

The two were at a stand-off, but Nick cut it short as he charged at Ziro ready to swing, but Ziro had other plans. He moved just a step out of the way at the last second, then used the pommel of Necrodian to jab Nick in his lower and then upper back. Nick spun back around despite the pain intensifying in his back, and swung the long-sword with him, but Ziro passed Necrodian into his other and used his now free one to seize Nick's wrist. He twisted it causing Nick to cry out in more pain and the long-sword to fall out of his hand, then he yanked him closer by the wrist only to jab him once more in the chest with the pommel.

Nick was at last able to pull out of Ziro's hold, staggering around the field searching for his sword while he clutched his chest. He only made it a few steps near to where the long-sword laid in the grass, when Ziro took hold of the collar of his shirt and wrenched him backwards till he was close enough to entrap in a headlock. Nick desperately tried breaking free, but Ziro subdued him by plunging Necrodian into the ground right before him, then slowly inched its blade closer to his groin.

"You wouldn't," Nick managed to say in a gruff tone. The crowd was on their toes, silence overtaking them.

Ziro fixed his gaze onto Nick, letting a triumphant grin slither onto his lips. "You have no idea what I would or wouldn't do." The group was also silent, but each of their faces spelled out imminent glory, while Alex's face screamed unfathomable admiration.

For once Nick wasn't laughing, instead trying to focus the last of his breaths to surface, but Ziro's grip seemed to be getting tighter and tighter. Nick's vision started to blur, and Necrodian's blade was scraping the fabric of his sweatpants. He tapped Ziro's arm, and in an instant collapsed to the ground after being released from the headlock.

The crowd was in turmoil, but their tumultuous sounds were no match for the jubilant uproars of the group. Alex was surprised to find himself the loudest among them; he had never cheered so loudly for anyone before, but he was glad to be doing it now. He started to feel Lev's hand loosen from his own, and when he looked over, Lev was already headed to where Ziro stood. He was going to ask, but then Ziro gave another nod at the group. Alex glanced around again, and saw Evan, Nyne, Carsyn and Jeremi sneak away towards the trees littered with the burlap sacks, and then Tate held his hand up and pointed to the sky.

"Oh my god! Look at the sky! The moon is purple!" he shouted.

The tumultuous clamoring of the crowd grew quiet as they all peered up at the dimming sky. Settled between a scant number of clouds, was the lavender moon, in full form and gradually becoming luminous.

And then, the crowd had fallen into pandemonium all over again. Every one of them dashed back to the trees that were keeping their devices hostage. None of them wanted prolonged exposure under the moon's bizarre gleam. Evan, Nyne, Carsyn and Jeremi had cut down the sacks and assisted in redistributing all the devices.

"Come on A.P., we gotta deal with the horde too," Tate chortled. He started off to the trees first, and Alex spared a glance at Lev and Ziro before following.

Nick fumbled as he tried sitting up, a sharp pain searing through his back and around his chest. He hadn't noticed Ziro and Lev stalking towards him.

Lev squatted down and jerked Nick upwards by his collar, causing him to wince. "Listen up, we're not gonna repeat ourselves."

Ziro stepped forward and stood in front of where Nick's feet laid hopelessly in the grass. "Okay Pierce, deal's a deal, unless you decide one day not to hold up your end of it."

A pained laugh escaped Nick. "Yeah...yeah I got it, I got it. You don't tell anybody, and I'll leave you alone." Lev flicked Nick's chest causing him to lurch over in agony.

"You mean you'll leave all of us alone," Lev warned.

"Of course, yeah that's what I meant. Deal's a deal."

"Good," Ziro said. "When you've collected yourself, leave." He turned away and started for the trees to convene with the group.

Lev stood up and took Nick's cell phone out of his pocket. He tossed it back to him without warning leaving it to tumble to the ground between Nick's legs, then he followed after Ziro.

"Hey...I need a favour!" Nick suddenly called. He raised his arms over his head, trying to stretch out all of the pain. Ziro and Lev stopped a meter away, and turned partway to glare at him. "Both of you. Or either one of you is fine, really."

"Are you serious?" Lev growled.

"I kid you not, this is of crucial importance to you two as well."

Ziro stared at Nick, doubting and pitying the boy. "Say it already."

Nick smiled, his expression more unguarded than complacent. "Just...tell Alex that Turtleneck isn't dead."

"What?" Lev shouted. "What the hell are you talking about? I thought you already said he was?"

"I may have fabricated the truth a bit. But he really is alive. No harm no foul."

"Why would we believe you now? You're probably still fabricating the truth," Ziro said.

Nick shrugged. "If you don't believe my words, then go see for yourself. He's at the top floor of this hospital in the far east-end of the city. Fourth Street."

Ziro took a menacing step closer to Nick. "If you're lying-"

"Yeah, I got it. Damned if I am."

Without another word, both Ziro and Lev turned and marched away, back on track towards the trees. Nick grimaced as he tried crossing his legs, and quickly aborted the idea when he felt the pain twinge in his back again. He decided to check his phone instead, and discovered he had fifthteen missed calls from his father, and one missed call from 'Little Orange Birdie'.

The sun was almost gone from the sky, lingering on the horizon in a dimmed orange and the clouds were slowly parting from the lavender moon. Nick gazed up at it and laughed to himself while rubbing at his chest. The pain was subsiding, but his back still ached. It took him three tries before he was able to stand up and one try to pick up the long-sword, then he tossed the weapon over his shoulder and hobbled his way towards the exit, all the while glancing back up every now and then at the moon.