Kiltering Mayhem

The first drop of the metalloid substance doesn't take long before impacting as the bullet of an outdated carbine, embedding itself in the earthy soil of the nature reserve.

Another drop falls upon us; Forcing our action to be immediate, running to search shelter in the Library.

In the next instant, a light rain of this metallic material quickly turns into a full fledge hailstorm, as the descending projectiles hit us occasionally.

The energetic coating that protects us; Better known as [Zöhår Membrane], deflects the impacts with great ease.

However, a numbing sensation is perceived right after every hit for a short period of time before becoming a tingling that rapidly escalates into a burning pain that is quite annoying for me, but must be hellishly agonic for others.

Gruntings and pained screams are followed by whining and cryings from every direction, as no one is truly safe right now.

{This is not supposed to be possible, the biggest point of interest for which anyone wants to learn how to use the [Zöhår Membrane] is precisely because it isolates your body from the outside, preventing illness, intoxication and injuries…}

The Icy Doll lift up her arms, erecting a [Rouleaux Barrier] over her head as an umbrella; An action which is simultaneously performed also by Marckza, Nisha and the Landlady.

{As is expected from women, they are "Generally Speaking", better than Men utilizing Zöhår}

The Bismuthic hail bounces back from the surface of the protection; Unfortunately, a drawback of this ability is its poor tolerance against repeated strikes over the same spot in a short span.

This forces the user to actively canalize more Zöhår with the intention of maintaining the stability of the Barrier, leading to a lack of awareness about their surroundings, something that is already way too poor due to Clarattoia interference.

"—*Agh!*."

The Young Man from before screams in pained agony as he is hit on his left temple by the Bismuthic alloy; The object bypass his [Zöhår Membrane], sticking to his face as if his dermis were a magnet.

The liquid consistency of the metal is sucked out by the skin of the youngster, being assimilated with hastiness and highlighting his veins with a dark greasy gray tone in the area around the invading object.

By reflex, he tries to remove the metal that is attached to his head, but unlike what one might think, instead of his hand also sticking to the object, he can simply touch it without further inconvenience.

Still, he cannot remove the "Bismuthic Amalgamation", as the metallic protuberance is intertwined with his skin.

—Stay closer to us so we can cover you with the Barriers!…

Exclaim Nisha in a scolding tone, which makes the group to shorten the distance between one another.

{This is insane!, How can something defile so blatantly physical and chemical laws?!}

Remembering a similar occurrence and being curious about it too; I look once more to the sky, the battle of flaying armies above us is coming to an accelerated end, as the vehicles are overwhelmed by the Bismuthic Hailstorm.

{Don't tell me they are going to crash down!}

The creatures on the other hand fly higher, which in my opinion is more counterproductive by shortening the distance to the mineral that is challenging and harming everybody.

{But now that I think about it, I already witness an exception to the "Universal Rules" during my Military Service}

When we were attacked with the gassed Bioweapon that the Farioth use in close quarter combat situations to maximize their efficiency and possibilities of victory; As this gas is wrecking havoc in the enemy lines, ignoring any type of countermeasure to avoid its effects.

{Whether be a gas mask, Barriers, or [Zöhår Membrane] itself, it is completely irrelevant for that Gasified Bioweapon, which only makes things clearer now, as surely may exist many other substances that possess similar capabilities}

Advancing without stopping, we have to resort to using partial telekinesis supported by Zöhår in order to remove the Bismuthic Amalgamation from the ground before advancing forward, just in case the soles of our shoes can be trapped my the metal alloy.

In the next minutes, we can see the Zöhår Dome defending the Library, the ethereal shape leaves openings in the base so others can enter, which can be a problem if the Bismuthic material invades the inmediations around our future shelter.

The Library is way different to any other nearby building, showcasing his old age and exaggerated design, as some experts assure it was constructed around seven to eight thousand years before The Kcrwlmndth Federation was founded.

Crossing the perimeter of the Zöhår Dome relive us from some tension, especially on the women as they can stop using the [Rouleaux Barrier], resting and relaxing their minds as we finally enter in the edification that was our goal in the following seconds; Having a massive calming effect in a few members of the group.

{This is strange, not many people are coming here even if they know is a safe bet; And why the doors weren't close by those who already were inside The Library?; The most common reaction is the people panicking and being paranoid, preferring to keep away any possible threat for this safe haven}

Not far from the entrance is a relatively wide area that leads to a thick pillar in the middle of the opposite wall, a weird location for it, but i am not an architect nor a connoisseur on the subject to give a less biased opinion.

The reception is located in front of the oddity, using a well preserved desk of fine wood with details carved and remarked with a silver white metal, probably "Mithranio".

The shape of this desk is a half toroid around the great pillar and there is an attractive mature woman sitting on a chair as if nothing was happening outside.

{I have no doubts, something here is wrong}

The woman has black hair with gray strands tied up in a perfect bun, her old age is easily identifiable by the wrinkles on the sides of her deep pink eyes, yet, there is no sign of glasses or a cane to assist her walk.

The Landlady moves closer to me and discreetly calls my attention by touching the tip of my left foot with her right foot.

My gaze is directed to the interaction because I did not execute her on the spot by invading my personal space without authorization.

A tendency that is unfortunately a necessity in order to survive the constant assassination attempts by the "Farioth Stalkers",the most fearsome stealth troop in all of Clarattoia.

Returning to what is happening, I can see that the Landlady makes pretty clear to me that I should be ready to use the pistol that I am carrying.

An action that does not go unnoticed by Marckza or the Icy Doll, on top of that, I can see from the corner of my eye the feline pupils of "Nisha" completely constricted, like a furious beast ready to kill the murder of her family, since the muscles of her mouth are tense and her lips are completely sealed.

—Are you the new coworker of "Kauliette"?, I thought that weren't candidates for the "Night shift"…

Question obliviously the niece of the Landlady, making the "Receptionist" to smile kindly, lifting her left hand showing a tetric ring of a hideous animal skull made of green swamp metal, being ignited by a blazing fire of the same hue, shooting forward a small but dense fire projectile.

The Landlady fastly defends her niece casting immediately a [Rouleaux Barrier], withstanding the aggression as the ladies couple their barriers to wrap the group in a spherical protection.

A Man and three Youngsters appear from the next room; They are wearing the same black robe and cape even when the older person has his uniform adorned with a white contour.

The Older materialize out of nowhere a Staff of blue wood with a yellow cristal in the top, Amber Light comes out of it, launching a concentrate beam of energy that is lasting to much, surpassing the nine seconds already, which should be impossible.

{Channeling energy is doable only for five seconds, then you stop or explode}

The energy attack fastly depletes the already half empty Zöhår reserves of my companions, weakening the spherical barrier letting the beam to pass for an instant, hitting the [Zöhår Membrane] defending the blue shoulder plate of my combat gear.

Tiring themselves up, my current comrades reestablish the stability of the barrier closing the hole, a commendable but unnecessary attitude, since eliminating the threat is infinitely simpler, and no one attacks me without some kind of consequence in retribution.

—I comprehend is a bit too much to ask, but Trektör, Can you don't overdo your reaction?, we need the edification with the less structural damage possible.

I understand Marckza's preoccupation, after all, she has some knowledge about how the military doctrine of The Kcrwlmndth Federation works, which is, "If they hit you, Obliterate them as a statement for everyone else to not do the same"; A motto that only the Farioths seem unable to get into their brains.