You're awake. Strong hands grip your shoulders, dragging you toward gargantuan metal doors etched with impossible symbols. Their gothic design should impress you, but your mind can only register their size as you stumble forward.

The gates creak open, releasing a wave of sensory input—a sharp metallic tang like ozone, the sweet-sour aroma of exotic incense that burns your nostrils, and a low, almost imperceptible hum that vibrates through your bones. Your bare feet transition from cold marble to lush red velvet as they pull you along a long carpet runner.

At the end stands a figure on a raised dais. Gold seems to emanate from her skin, her presence dominating the vast chamber despite her human form. Her eyes lock onto yours as you approach, and time warps around you—moments or hours disappear in an instant.

You regain awareness kneeling on the floor, neck craned upward to meet her gaze from her throne. The woman who rules all of humanity studies you with an intensity that feels like physical pressure against your skin.