Thousands of years ago, there was a ruler who governed the underworld, known as the God of Death—Anguta. His task was to guide all living beings, from humans to animals and plants, to their final resting place, known as the Afterlife.
The Afterlife was a world shaped by the imagination of every soul that entered it. There, each person would see and experience the Afterlife according to their own perception—a world deeply personal, yet bound by its laws and order.
Anguta had a daughter, not his biological child, but an adopted one, named Sedna. Anguta had adopted Sedna when she was still a baby—abandoned and without anyone in the Afterlife. Anguta raised her with love and care, nurturing her from childhood until she grew into a strong young woman, even though the world she lived in was so different from the human world.
However, without a clear explanation, one day, Anguta cast Sedna out of the Afterlife and threw her into another world. He confined her in a strange place, far from everything she had ever known. Shortly afterward, Sedna realized that she possessed a unique power that had been with her all along—the power to imagine. This power remained, even though she was no longer in the Afterlife.
This was not something she desired. Something must have happened behind the scenes, but the reason Anguta abandoned her still remained a mystery.
Sedna eventually settled in a forest surrounded by a large lake. The lake was peaceful, holding the tranquility she needed. However, Sedna didn't just intend to stay on its shores. She decided to live within the lake, merging with the nature around her.
For some unknown reason, an idea formed in her mind. A strong vision. She wanted to become the Queen of the Sea—just like the story Anguta once told her about a woman cast into the sea, blessed with great power, and living peacefully in the ocean. The only difference was that Sedna was in a lake, not the sea. But that didn't matter to her. With the power of imagination she possessed, there were no limits. She could change anything according to her will.
Some time later...
Arthur found himself once again in the white room, a world that was not unfamiliar to him. He now knew what had just happened—he had died, and now he was back in the Afterlife.
Anguta's voice echoed once more, smooth but full of meaning. "Why have you returned?"
Arthur felt his confusion, an emotion he couldn't avoid. "I don't know… But something big must have happened to me," he answered, raising an eyebrow. "Shouldn't I not be here anymore?"
Anguta sighed deeply. "That was the general idea… However, it seems there is a special force preventing that event from occurring."
Arthur closed his eyes, trying to recall everything that had happened before. He had been chased by a huge ice bear, encountered a strange ocean, and...
"A beautiful woman came from the sea... and killed me?" Arthur wasn't sure, his words faltering in his throat.
Silence filled the room, then Anguta broke it with a tense question, "Did she look like a monster?"
Arthur shook his head. "No, she looked more like a human, though her clothing was very unique."
"I see," Anguta replied softly, as though understanding something. "I know why your powers didn't work. Because she is a Goddess..."
Anguta's words startled Arthur, and his heart raced faster.