There is a sense of vast swathes of time passing. It's not dark or bright here. It's not anything. Here... Isn't. But there's not enough time in this transitory state to form thoughts or impressions; It's over in an instant despite the sense of timeless immensity.

Now she's in a soft chair on an elaborate rug on some kind of tower. The landscape all around is bucolic - rolling green hills, pastoral rivers, and friendly-looking forests. A thin, old-looking woman in a bright yellow floral print dress is sitting across a wrought iron table. There is a tea set.

"Hello there, miss. Unfortunately, you're dead. We have a few minutes before you're not dead anymore. Would you like some tea?"

"I would love some tea, thank you," she says, operating on the manners of a court noble driven down so deep they're bedrock in her soul. "I assume you're about to explain?"

She pours tea with perfect elegance and manners, aside from continuing to speak. "As much as I can. Something about you was special enough for an ancient and powerful process to pull you from the river of souls, and bring you here specially. I suspect it to be a decisiveness and ability to command that will be needed, for you see, the world you are soon to enter will soon face a terrible force of evil. It is the summoned hero's job to defend against it by gathering allies and resources, by growing in power."

"It's only natural that someone like me would be called to this task," she says. "What force of evil is this?"

"A Demon Lord. They will be as powerful as the Hero and surely try to destroy all civilization in the world, or otherwise cause enough havoc and destruction as makes no difference. To help you in your quest, you will receive a unique and powerful magical ability. I can do my best to make it something you will find useful, rather than something random, if you wish."

She nods. "Give me my birthright," she says. "The attention and time I'm due. Make it easy for me to prove I am the Hero and draw others to my banner. That's what I want."

She smiles and nods. "Very well. I shall do my best. Have you any further questions? There remains time for a few."

"What reaction am I likely to recieve as a claimed Hero? How can I expect politics to complicate my life?"

"The coming of the Hero heralds great change and a time of war. Established power structures may be wary of you and myopically wish to believe you are a false claimant so that things can continue as they have been, or may seek to ally with you to later benefit from your favor. There is often fear of the Hero's future actions, for once they grow enough in power they are unimpeachable. The downtrodden and oppressed will see the Hero as the light of hope."

She nods. "Are there any particular organizations I should be wary of or consider allying with?

"The world is large enough that I cannot predict what kingdom you will land in. However, Adventurers' Guilds are common. They restrict access to the dungeons which are the fastest way to grow in power in order to turn a profit, and exist across most of the world. You will have to deal with them one way or another, most likely."

She nods. "How much emphasis should I put on personal power?"

"The Demon Lord and the Summoned Hero will likely be the most powerful individuals in the world by the time things come to a head. If you have enough powerful followers, and help them grow in power as well, and use them wisely, your own growth is not quite so critical... But I advise against neglecting it."

"Thank you," says Liath. "I have no further questions."

"Very well. Good luck. The fate of the world depends on your actions."

Now she is standing on a stone road. A walled town is visible in front of her, perhaps half a mile away. And something tells her, not with words but just knowledge-

Unique Skill gained! 『Glorious Presence』 level 1.

None can deny your majesty.

Grants you increased charisma and 'aura', causing you to seem royal and majestic and inspiring others to respect and obey you. Your words carry as far as you wish them to (current limit: 100ft), and are heard only by those you wish to hear them. Significantly boosts all manipulation, intimidation, and persuasion attempts you make. Confers great resistance to similar effects used on you.

The hot, dry wind blows around her. The terrain is most of the way to 'desert', with brown dry scrublands all around.

And she is wearing heels. Not exactly the best all-terrain wear. 

She'll head onwards towards the town and hopefully not get a blister or break a heel on the way.

She does not break a heel! In fact, after only a few steps, she suddenly finds walking in high heels almost effortless even over the rough stones.

The landscape reveals a little more as she walks. She passes marble obelisks about eight feet tall - each engraved with 'FRANZERL WARD STONE E56' or a similar letter-number combination. They give off a slightly strange feeling and seem to be... Shimmering a bit. And just behind the 'ward stones', there is a sudden cliff that the road winds along, the edge of a huge crater with flourishing forests and plantlife throughout. Green valleys covered in farms spread across the crater. The town's wall is a medieval-looking edifice of stone with large blue crystals set on top of the walls in parapets every once in a while. It's built right up to the edge of the crater, and it looks like there's some sort of elevator. Some of the buildings inside the wall are visible - four or five story apartments, colorful towers, a white palace rising above it all.

A wagon being pulled by some sort of... Horse-like animal approaches on the road. The driver is a mousey man - literally. He has mouse ears and a short snout with a pink nose, and he is staring slightly.

She nods to the mousey man and continues on down the road towards the elevator. Normally she wouldn't bother, but in this strange country...

The elevator building is three tall structures of stone and wood framing a pair of large openings. A clock is counting down - 2 minutes 15 seconds, with a large arrow pointing to the right opening. There is a big crowd of people of various species (but mostly humans) and a few wagons in a queue area, all apparently milling around waiting. There are also some people in green uniforms collecting fees and checking tickets, and a few people with medieval weapons and armor hanging around. The town walls are just a couple hundred feet beyond, with a large wooden gate and another queue for entry and more uniforms and guards.

She surveys the crowd. What does she have that she could trade for a ticket. She could of course claim to be the hero and that would get her to the local authorities, but she can't just demand everything she wants with nothing to offer in return. She can trade against her future victory, but that's so far off it might as well not exist. She could... ask for a loan...??? 

Fuck that noise, she's a Queen. Act like it. 

She puts on her best noble mien and steps up towards the guards. "Guards!" she calls. "Have any of you seen my entourage?"

The guards stiffen into more alert postures. The closest looks at the next closest and whispers something to her. The other glares at him and answers, "No, ma'am, I don't believe so! We haven't received any entourages today as far as I know. I'm terribly sorry if something has gone wrong - I can go ask the captain if you were expected...?"

"If I was expected here it'll be a miracle. I would like to see your commander in person in order to arrange my further travel. Acceptable?"

She doesn't need this to hold for long; she just needs to get to the Commander's office. Then she can claim her real title.

"Of course. I'll send a message right away! Ah- Would you like to step in the guardhouse while you wait? We're simple guards here but can at least provide a place to sit."

"Thank you, I've been walking for some time and the shade will be appreciated. What's your name, ma'am?" Remember the little people and they'll remember you.

"Of course. Veloa Faroe deMont, ma'am. Right this way."

She pulls out a sending stone as she starts walking. "Who should I tell the Captain he is meeting with?"