ACCIDENTAL ACCIDENT

XXXIII. The Vessels

I stood in the grand hall, surrounded by the aristocrats of the kingdom. The murmur of their voices echoed off the high ceilings, creating a constant hum of anticipation. Jace, sitting by my side, his hand lightly resting on the small of my back, a silent promise of support.

The King, a formidable figure even in his advanced years, stood at the head of the table. His gaze was stern, his voice steady as he addressed the room. "We have gathered here to discuss the recent incident, the battle that has shaken our kingdom. Carmilla, I believe you have some information to share."

I felt Jace squeeze my hand, a silent encouragement. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, my voice echoing in the grand hall. "I have discovered that the abyss has a plan. They have a vessel for the Abyssal King."

The room fell into a shocked silence. The aristocrats exchanged uneasy glances, their whispers filling the room. I heard a few gasps, and the King's brows furrowed in concern. "A vessel? Are you certain?"

Before I could respond, Dia, stepped forward. "I can confirm Carmilla's words." The grand hall was a sea of shocked faces as Dia, a stranger held captive by me, made her startling confession. "I am one of the vessels," she announced, her voice echoing around the room.

The aristocrats erupted into a flurry of questions and accusations. "Who is this woman?" one demanded. "How can we believe a word she says?" another questioned.

The King raised his hand, silencing the room. "Carmilla," he said, turning towards me, "You brought her here. Explain."

I took a deep breath, stepping forward to address the room. "This is Dia," I began, "Isa siya sa mga nakalaban ko noong nakaraang laban natin sa mga abyss."

The room fell into a stunned silence. The implications of Dia's words, if true, were terrifying. The King looked at Dia, his gaze hard. "And you claim to be this vessel?"

Despite her position, Dia met the King's gaze. "Yes," she said simply.

The room broke into chaos once again. The aristocrats were shouting over each other, their voices a cacophony of fear and anger.

The murmurs grew louder, the aristocrats breaking into heated debates. Some believed us, others were skeptical, and a few were downright dismissive. "This is preposterous!" one of them spat, "How could the abyss possibly have a vessel for the Abyssal King?"

Seeing the skepticism on the faces of the aristocrats, Dia slowly rolled up her skirt to reveal her leg. There, etched into her skin, was a distinct mark - a polygon with a crown of thorns in the middle. The room fell into a stunned silence.

"I am the eighth vessel," she stated, her voice steady. "The tenth vessel was killed by Carmilla."

I felt a chill run down my spine at her words. Dia continued, "When the Abyssal King dies, his soul resurrects in one of us, his vessels. Each of us possesses unique powers, so powerful that even the strongest wizards struggle to defeat us."

The room erupted into a flurry of whispers. The aristocrats looked at each other, their faces pale. The King looked at me, his eyes filled with questions.

Jace, however, was calm. He studied Dia, his gaze thoughtful. "If what you're saying is true," he began, "then we have a much bigger problem on our hands. We need to prepare, we need to strategize."

The importance of Dia's revelation was not lost on anyone. If the Abyssal King could resurrect in any of his vessels, it meant that killing him wasn't enough. We had to deal with his vessels too. And with their unique powers, that was easier said than done.

"But, what if gawa-gawa niya lang ang lahat ng sinasabi niya para malaya silang makagalaw sa ating teritoryo?"