Jonah felt panic creep up his spine and into his mind. She knew. She knew he wasn’t from her planet, world, dimension, whatever it was. And she was suspicious of him, rightfully so. Who wouldn’t be? She had him tied up with no intentions of freeing him. Of course, she did. She had a living, breathing alien on her hands. She would be crazy if she didn’t keep it under control.

All sorts of horrible scenarios flashed through his mind as he briefly thought about how humans on Earth had reacted when encountering new civilizations of humans from the same planet.

Being enslaved, put on display like a circus animal, tested and experimented on, or maybe even killed after getting tortured for everything he knew or info information about how to get to Earth. Maybe he would be the catalyst for an invasion on Earth.

Although the technology and magic on Earth were flourishing at the moment and seemed to be miles ahead of what was inside the shed, Jonah couldn’t forget the difference in mana density and the Rock Roarer. If this place and Earth fought, who would win? And what would his fate be in the process?

Jonah’s breath and heart rate both spiked as he realized what might happen to him and Earth.

The young woman watched Jonah silently spiral downward in a vortex of fear and panic.

“Huh. I guess you actually didn’t know. You must have been really unlucky, then. And lucky, I guess, since you met me.”

The woman smiled, almost proudly, as she looked at Jonah, who gradually realized what she said. Based on her tone and what she said, it didn’t seem like he would be dying just yet. But it was still too early to celebrate. And his earlier suspicions toward the woman returned in full force.

While trying his best to calm down and look at the situation calmly while analyzing his surroundings and looking for an escape, Jonah also looked at the woman.

“I didn’t know what? And why am I lucky to have met you? Or are you the lucky one? Isn’t that what you really meant?”

Jonah would have to ask about language and how that worked later since it wasn’t as important as what the woman had insinuated. That is, if he would get the opportunity to do that later.

The woman chuckled a little at Jonah’s suspicion shining like headlights through his narrowed eyes.

“Oh, boy, this is going to take some explaining. First, how about some introductions? What’s your name, Clueless?”

“...Why should I tell you my name?”

“...Why shouldn’t you? And I can hear your stomach growl. If you really think this is drugged, I can take a mouthful first. So, if you’re hungry and want some, tell me your name.”

“What if you steal it?”

“What, your name?”

The woman burst out into a pearling fit of laughter

“How would I steal your name? No, in the first place– What would I even do with your name? Use it as a decoration? Where are you from that it’s common to steal names? Or that it’s common to fear someone will steal your name?”

“It’s not common. But it is possible. Ever heard of the Fae.”

Stolen novel; please report.

Jonah didn’t bother explaining in detail since not doing so could derail the conversation further, which he didn’t mind since it provided him with an opportunity to fish for information by using knowledge from Earth to bait the woman in front of him into revealing the common sense and knowledge of this new place. It was another attempt at learning about his surroundings.

“‘The Fae’? Is that a thief or what?”

Jonah just shrugged and didn’t answer.

“No, but seriously. I don’t think I will be able to talk with you when I can’t even hear my own thoughts over the sound of your stomach’s protests.”

The woman grabbed the bowl of soup and took a spoonful down her throat.

“See? Nothing to be afraid of. Now, eat.”

Jonah leaned back as far as he could and locked his jaw shut while speaking through clenched teeth.

“Ever heard of drug resistance?”

“Well, yeah. But I don’t have anything like that.”

“And why am I supposed to trust you? You are the one who kidnapped me and tied me up.”

The woman was a little exasperated at Jonah’s stubbornness. She sighed while stirring the soup before looking at Jonah.

“I understand you’re finding it hard to trust me. And I admit it looks like I kidnapped and tied you up–”

“Because you did.”

The woman gave Jonah a stern look before proceeding to ignore his stubborn attempt at setting the record straight.

“But I don’t have anything personally against you. I have no reason to. In fact, I’m more interested in helping you.”

“That, that right there, is fucking suspicious. Why would you want to help me, a random stranger from another… I don’t even know if it's a planet or an entirely different dimension?! Besides, you clearly kidnapped and tied me up! That doesn’t seem like the attitude of someone who wants to help!”

Jonah couldn’t suppress his fear and suspicion any longer and lashed out at the woman, who was surprised at Jonah’s sudden shout.

He was in a strange place. He didn’t know anyone. He didn’t know the language, and he almost died as soon as he arrived. He had no idea how to get back home, if that was even possible. To top it all off, he was held captive by a strange woman who tried to claim she wasn’t suspicious while also trying to feed him a strange soup while refusing to untie the ropes around his arms and legs.

The woman looked at Jonah as he glared at her, breathing slightly heavy after the emotional outburst, which, thankfully, didn’t last long.

She didn’t know what to say. She could tell that Jonah wouldn’t trust her, no matter what she said to try and convince him that she didn’t have any ill intentions. She also wondered if the current situation poked some past trauma or trust issues. But maybe she was just reading into it too much.

“Uh, okay. To answer your question, since I don’t know where you’re from, it’s hard to tell whether you’re from a different planet, dimension, or universe. In these cases, we usually just say that the Invader, you in this case, is from another world since it kind of means all the above. You with me so far?”

“...yeah. I am not an idiot. Don’t treat me like one.”

The woman realized her question might have sounded a little patronizing, even if she only asked it because Jonah didn’t know anything.

“Right. Sorry. Before we continue, I will tell you my name. You don’t have to tell me yours if you don’t want to.”

“Mmm.”

Jonah had calmed down after his outburst, but he didn’t feel like talking with the woman in front of him. He didn’t want to talk with anyone. He just wanted to be alone with his thoughts until he could accept the fact that he was in another world. However, he knew he had to be calm and gather as much information as possible.

The woman had called him an Invader. It didn’t sound like a name or nickname you give to someone you’re going to be treating with hospitality. To ensure his future safety, Jonah had to figure out what kind of position he was in. And for now, his only source of information was the woman in front of him.

So, even if he didn’t want to talk or listen to anyone else do the talking, he didn’t tell her to be quiet and leave him alone. He wanted to do something about his current circumstances as quickly as possible. And to do that, he had to listen to his captor.

The woman nodded slightly before saying with a voice of mostly pride,

“My name is Serina Lockstar, daughter of Adamt Lockstar and Litar Evermoon.”