01 - Perpetual soul

"Welcome to the sacred hall, Ethel Astaroth," said an old man without taking his eyes off the book he held in his hand. The young man, open-mouthed and confused, looked around, but everything was completely white. Except for the old man, there was nothing else.

"Am I dead?" he asked quietly, already suspecting the answer.

The old man looked up from his book and observed the young man with some interest. "Oh, it has been a long time since a perpetual soul has arrived, capable of maintaining its consciousness after being purified to enter the sacred hall. It seems you have a very strong spirit."

Ethel, confused by the old man's words, frowned. "I don't understand, what is a perpetual soul?"

The old man smiled patiently and closed his book. "Unlike other souls, which upon death return to the great spiritual river to be purified, losing their memories and experiences, perpetual souls do not undergo this procedure. This allows them to retain their memories and abilities after each death."

Ethel remained thoughtful, assimilating the information. "So, have I gone through this process before?"

The old man shook his head. "No, young one. This is your first death. It is unusual for a perpetual soul to manifest on its first transition. Generally, this phenomenon occurs after several lifetimes."

Ethel sat on the white floor, trying to gather his thoughts. "And now what happens? What should I do?"

"This is a place of passage. Normally, you would be sent directly to the great river, but in your case, I must explain something to you first," the old man said in a calm voice.

The young man nodded, listening attentively. "What do you need to explain to me?"

The old man took his time before answering. "Every time you die and return to the sacred hall, you will gain a different power, chosen at random from your mind. With each death, you will add a new power to your repertoire."

Ethel was perplexed by surprise. He hadn't expected something like this. "I am very happy, thank you very much."

"It's not something I decide, young man; you don't need to thank me. Now, before you go to the great river, let's see what power you are going to obtain," said the old man as he motioned for the young man to touch his book.

Ethel reached out his hand, but before touching the book, he looked at the old man curiously. "I have so many questions. Who are you?"

The old man smiled, his eyes shining with deep mystery. "I am just a guardian of this place, a guide for perpetual souls."

"Why me? Why do I have a perpetual soul?" asked Ethel, searching for answers.

"Your spirit is strong and has been chosen for reasons only the universe knows," responded the old man, maintaining the enigma in his words.

"What is the great river you speak of?" insisted Ethel.

"The great river is the eternal flow of all souls, the place where they are purified and reborn. It is the infinite cycle of life and death," explained the old man, his words filled with ancient wisdom.

Ethel frowned, still full of doubts. "And what purpose do I have? What should I do with these powers?"

"Purpose is something you will discover over time. Each life, each death, will bring you closer to the truth. Powers are tools, means to an end that only you can define," said the old man enigmatically.

Finally, Ethel extended his hand and touched the book. As he did so, flashes of light shot towards his head, merging into his forehead. The young man let out a cry of pain, but instantly, a stream of information came to his mind.

"I have obtained the three Hakis from One Piece," he said to himself in a low voice.

The old man nodded approvingly. "An interesting power. Use it wisely."

After talking with the old man some more, Ethel prepared to enter the sea of souls. Engulfed by the stream of spirits, he closed his eyes. Hearing voices, he opened them again, crying. He had just been reborn.

The first thing that surprised Ethel was being able to understand what others were saying. The second was his surroundings. It looked primitive, as if he were in medieval times.

"My lady, the little brother is still to be born. Push a little harder, hold on," the midwife said as another small head emerged. The black-haired woman gave birth to the second child, but she was left very weak.

"Bring me my children; I want to hold them in my arms," the woman requested, in pain. With the two babies in her lap, she kissed them tenderly. Suddenly, the door opened abruptly, and a man dressed in armor entered the room.

"Ned, look at my two boys. Look how precious they are," she said with a weak but loving voice.

"Lyanna, why did you do this? Look at your state," said Ned, as he looked at his sister with tears in his eyes.

The woman, named Lyanna, smiled sadly and looked at her brother. "Ned, I had to do it. These children... are our future. Promise me that you will take care of them, that you will protect them."

Ned nodded, his heart heavy with sadness. "I promise, Lyanna. I will give my life for them if necessary."

Lyanna closed her eyes, exhausted. "Thank you, Ned. I know you will keep your promise."

With the two babies in her arms, Lyanna gave them a final kiss and, with a sigh, closed her eyes forever. Ned, heartbroken, took the children in his arms, determined to honor the promise made to his sister.

Ethel, still assimilating everything he had witnessed, realized the importance of this moment. He had been reborn in the world of "A Song of Ice and Fire" as Jon Snow's brother.

Several weeks later, once Robert's rebellion had ended and he had been crowned the new king of the Seven Kingdoms, Ned returned to the North. He carried his sister's body, which was to be buried in the family crypt, and two children, both with black hair.

Ned Stark, burdened with grief and responsibility, took the children to the ancestral home of the Starks in Winterfell. He decided to name the older child Ethel and the younger Jon, treating them as if they were his own, keeping the secret of their true origin to protect them.