The bleak vibe of Morris was interrupted by the appearance of this "house", or so it was called. In truth, the building before them was a bizarre abstraction of a house, the ends twisting into each other in such a way that if viewed from the side, the building would appear as a flat image. The bright violet luminescence it casted overlaid not only the house, but the very area around it as well.
Unlike the normal lifeless foliage, fine grass stalks the color of indigo spread out in a several meter radius. Trees with thick trunks yet thin, graceful branches swayed with glowing lilac leaves, and their barks were a shade of eminence purple. They grew in a circular manner, surrounding the house like a nicely maintained garden.
Sensing visitors, trees parted as their roots carried them a meter away, just to give them space. Purple fauna darted about, dazzling two of the five with their elegant calls and dances in the lilac rays.
"Come here." Bie's voice sounded as blue particles materialized around his body. Two ethereal apparitions appeared, their serene expressions revealing both love and respect as their bodies bowed low. The hazy blue outline contrasted with the clear white flickering inside, their heads following Bie's pointed fingers as they perceived an order.
"Get them, you two." The apparitions smiled, seemingly floating over as their bodies partially transformed to glowing blue mist. One tapped Wanxi on the shoulder, getting her attention before leading her forward. The other flicked the back of Lulac's head, dragging him forward as an eerie yet mischievous laughter rang in his ears. Having achieved what they set out to do, the ephemeral figures dispersed, leaving a small blue speckle that made its way back to Bie.
"Thank you, Bie. Lulac, Wanxi, I must advise that you focus a lot more. Those animals are not natural and could turn out to be demons at any moment. From the reports of Hunter Balir, the Violet House is quite dangerous, despite its looks." Casmere nodded to Bie, before directing a stern gaze towards the two. Wanxi seemed to feel guilty as she twiddled her fingers and kicked at a vibrant rock, and Lulac simply shrugged and kept going forward.
"What a mess." Gyuho's face, which had returned to normal, emitted a large sigh.
"It always is, no?" Bie concurred, the two sharing a glance of comradery as they followed after Casmere.
Soon, they arrived before the house's door. Casmere withdrew a flask from his tattered clothing, pouring amber liquid on an extracted cloth before wrapping it around the doorknocker.
OOOOM!
The Violet House let out a solemn noise, before the harmony of flutes entered their ears. The sound slowly receded as the doors began to part, a darkness contrasting the radiance of the house standing to their front. A small purple glimmer traced lines in the air before reentering the darkness, almost as if it was beckoning them inwards.
And the Pinions of Ire took this invitation, entering before the moment could pass.
--
A wonderland.
That was the feeling the environment of the Violet House gave off, no, what it was. It was a plain filled with rolling purple hills covered in plants and animals with various shades of purple. There was no sense of walls, or a roof.
Like glistening diamonds, pools gleamed with a violet tinge. Flowers danced underneath a purple disc, the sky filled with flowing petals and flutelike noises. The ground itself flashed variegated, intense beams as the dirt, grass, and even sand near the likes was all clothed in purple.
The gentle wind felt pleasant, and the rocks shone like pearls. It was easy to call this place a land of peacefulness achieved only in idyllic delusions, the stillness beckoning one to partake in deep tranquility. Bie's brows furrowed, and he shook his head back and forth as his bicolored strands of hair threatened to sway in the breeze,
"Not good." Casmere drew his bone pick, clutching it so tightly that his hands begun to bleed. The turbidity that was encroaching inside of his pupils was halted, and soon his baleful, piercing eyes returned. Bie followed in turn, not wanting to be lulled into the false sense of security the Violet House emitted. Pushing through his tattered, vagrant clothing, he smashed his fist into his chest, the sides of his lips streaming blackened blood lines.
"Wanxi, Gyu...Lulac. Hurry up and get the blood flowing, now!" Bie grimaced but turned anyway, ready to slap any one of the three he called out to in case they couldn't respond in time. Wanxi gripped at her flag, before beckoning to her Component as small shocks battered her arm. Gyuho's body shifted around as he partially transformed, rapidly using and dispelling it and causing great stress until his eyes cleared up. And Lulac, though he responded last, was able to cut his cheek on the backside of his beam saber's hilt.
"Alright, we're all good? No surprises...no weird voices you don't know whispering in your head?" Bie asked, his eyes intently scanning each and every one of them. They responded in means quite distinct to them, all showing affirmation, and so Bie gestured forward while looking at Casmere.
"Lead the way, then. Please stay alert, everyone."
"Will do." With that said, they sallied forth with footsteps laden with caution. Bie checked his duffel bag as he walked, sighing when he made sure it was completely full. Meters passed by as the horizon seemed to continuously expand ever forwards.
A whistle sounded amongst the trees, and five sets of eyes suddenly shifted. Though the calls of birds and the playing of a flute seemed to be the common backdrop of the Violet House, they had not heard anything akin to a whistle yet.
Out from the forest, a hazy mist sprung forth. Heading the mist was a bizarre beast that seemed to be stitched together with a mix of bovine, avian, and reptile qualities. A single spire shone atop its head, and the scent of blood hung around it.
"Krrrr..." With maddened eyes, it shot out like a wound spring! The forehead aimed into a headbutt was met with a fist lined with bristles, as Gyuho met the charge with one hand and swept his bat with the other, his own eyes wolfish in turn.
Bie sprinted forward, a dagger in hand as he quickly arrived beside the beast. With a single slash, the shards of the dagger imbedded themselves into the amalgamated creature's flesh, and a heavy kick smashed down into its spine. Bie's smile was laden with cruelty as a light mixed with white and yellow blared around him, his wing ears fluttering underneath the black curtain of hair.
The beast collapsed, purple blood forming a pool beneath the Guides as they heaved mighty breaths. As soon as it died, the mist faded, and the angry sensation invading all of the Pinions gradually faded.
"...Another thing to note. The vibe of this place can incite both positive and negative effects. What was master thinking..."
"If just the air of this place and do this, there might be illusions." Bie's eyes flashed as a white healing sign materialized, his eyes quickly discerning the mesmerizing feeling in the atmosphere. He felt that although he wouldn't be affected by this, the caliber was too high to simply be dispelled by his Cassius Eyes.
'If only I was stronger.'
"Funny you should mention, illusions. Have fun~" A deep, melodious voice emanated from the flowing winds, carried by the noise of the flute. The ground began shooting out illusory lights as an aurora materialized in the sky.