Now, I know what you're thinking. “Wow! What a jarring introduction to this world! Most books would wait to throw such emotions at its readers!” I agree. Most books have to think of the reader's experience. Try to captivate the reader with a compelling character with a relatable background and then slowly ease the reader into the exposition of the world they are now a part of. Yeah. I wish that's how it happened.

When I came too, after staring at the beauty of this strange new land, events happened so fast I could hardly keep up. First the stranger, then Sofia.

I left some parts out. I couldn't figure out how they fit until later when I was told. I'll explain. Death in this world is a big deal. If someone does not ascribe to a religion or an ideology, thus willingly giving their souls to extraplanar gods or entities, the gods of the natural world will take them. Since these gods have power over not just the souls of the mortals here, but the very body’s that they die in, they can control them. Like zombies. If a body is not properly buried they will rise again and walk directly to their respective gods' palace.

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Rhulaos is a particularly nasty one. When a person drowns they will sing as though they were a siren and walk or swim to the kingdom under the ocean. The drowned cut down any person that gets in their way or interrupts their song. When they arrive in the kingdom they sing together and cry as one. Their tears are said to fill the ocean. This is why Rhulous is also known as the King of Sorrows. When Sofia walked past me I wanted nothing more than to help her. The song spoke of violence towards interlopers.

That was the weirdest part. At the time, the song told the story of Sophia's life. But when I remember the experience I hear the undercurrent of warning. The claim on her soul by the King of Sorrows.

Someday I might meet the same fate. While I personally follow the beliefs of the kingdom, I may die drowning at sea. Some deaths seal one's fate regardless of their beliefs. If I drown at sea, my soul and body will belong to Rhulaos.