Kana groaned as she stirred awake.
Something loud was screeching right beside her ear.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
"Ugh, shut up…"
Kana muttered, raising her hand to smack whatever it was. Instead of cold metal or the annoying system interface, her palm landed on something soft.
And warm.
And... definitely human.
She froze.
"…Huh?"
Before her sluggish brain could process the implications, a sharp, commanding voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Wake up."
Kana's eyes snapped open.
And then immediately widened in horror.
A pair of intense eyes stared back at her—mere inches from her own. Too close. Far, far too close.
A face that looked like it belonged on a coin or carved into a statue was glaring down at her with absolute authority.
Kana yelped and jerked back, nearly toppling off the bed.
The woman didn't flinch. She merely straightened up, arms crossed, face unreadable. Still just as intimidating.
"About time. You've been unconscious for nearly a day."
She said flatly.
Kana stared at her, heart pounding.
"W-Where am I?"
"My home. You collapsed outside the southern gate. You're lucky I was there to catch you."
The woman replied coolly. Kana blinked.
"You caught me…?"
The woman's expression twitched, just barely.
"Reflex. Don't think too much of it."
Kana swallowed. Her brain still hadn't caught up.
"Um… thank you, I guess…"
"You can thank me by explaining who you are and why you were wandering around the border looking half-dead."
Her voice was calm, but firm.
"Identification papers. Now."
"Papers?"
Kana echoed, confused.
The woman narrowed her eyes.
"Don't play dumb."
"I-I'm not! I don't have any papers, but—wait! My system! It can prove who I am!"
Kana sat up straighter, remembering.
She waved her hand in the air. The familiar screen popped up, beeping softly now that it sensed she was awake. Her name, stats, and everything else hovered there, bright and blue.
She gestured toward it with a proud little grin.
"See? I'm Kana. That's me!"
The woman didn't even blink. She just stared at Kana's waving hand like she'd lost her mind.
"…Are you mocking me?"
She asked slowly.
Kana blinked.
"What? No!"
"There's nothing there."
Kana paused.
"Excuse me?"
"I said, there's nothing there. No information. Nothing. You're just waving your hand in the air like an idiot."
Kana stared at her system. Then at the woman. Then back again.
"You… really can't see this?"
Kana asked weakly.
"No. And if this is some elaborate joke, it's in poor taste. Are you trying to deceive a commanding officer with fake credentials and flashy tricks?"
The woman stepped forward.
"What? No! It's not a trick! It's—well, I don't know what it is, but it's real!"
"I've had enough. For lying to an officer and attempting to use charm magic on me, you'll be taken into custody until further notice."
The woman reached for the sword at her side.
"Charm—what?! I didn't charm anyone!"
The woman's eyes narrowed.
"Then why did I catch you? Why did I bring you home? Why do I feel…?"
She stopped herself, teeth clenching.
Kana held her hands up defensively.
"Look, I don't know why any of that happened! I woke up in a forest, got chased by animals, almost got groped by a tree—don't ask—and then I ran until I collapsed at your gate!"
The woman stared at her. Silent.
Kana was breathing hard.
"I'm not lying. I don't know where I am. I don't know how I got here. But I'm not trying to trick you. Please."
Another long silence.
Then, slowly, the woman stepped back. Her hand lowered from her sword hilt, but her posture remained stiff.
"…I don't trust you. But you don't look like a trained liar. Or any kind of liar, honestly."
She said bluntly.
Kana wasn't sure whether to be offended or relieved.
"I'm placing you under watch. You'll stay here for now. Try anything suspicious, and you're gone. Understand?"
The woman continued.
Kana nodded quickly.
"Y-Yes. Thank you."
"Don't thank me. And don't get comfortable."
The woman turned on her heel.
Kana let herself fall back against the bed with a sigh.
"I really hope this world has coffee."
She mumbled.
From the door, the woman paused.
"…Name?"
Kana blinked.
"Kana."
"I'm Commanding Officer Lysera. Remember it."
She said. "
And then she was gone.
Kana stared at the ceiling.
"Great. I got isekai'd and arrested in the same day. New personal record."
______
Kana watched the clock tick for the hundredth time in the past half hour.
She shifted in her seat, hands folded neatly in her lap, pretending she wasn't sweating bullets under the steady, unblinking gaze of Commanding Officer Lysera.
The woman hadn't moved from her spot by the wall since lunch. She stood there like a statue—arms crossed, sword sheathed, eyes sharp and entirely too focused on one person.
Kana.
At first, it had been fine. A little awkward, maybe, but tolerable. Lysera was intense, sure, but she also hadn't said a word in hours. That counted for something.
But now, three hours and forty-two minutes later (yes, Kana was keeping track), the silence was driving her up the wall.
Every time she looked up, Lysera was already staring. Not blinking. Not shifting her weight. Just... watching.
"I, uh... like attention. From pretty women, even. But this feels less like attention and more like a prison interview."
Kana muttered under her breath.
She glanced up again.
Yup. Still staring.
Kana flinched and looked away quickly. Her foot tapped anxiously against the floor.
This couldn't go on much longer, right?
"How long do you usually watch your house guests like this?"
Kana asked carefully.
Lysera didn't answer.
Of course.
Kana forced a smile.
"Not that I'm complaining. You've got a really nice... face. Stoic. Warrior-y. Very symmetrical."
Still no reply.
Great. Now she sounded like a weirdo flirting with her warden.
She stared at the ceiling. Maybe if she closed her eyes, she could pretend she was alone—
A sudden blaring alarm cut through the room.
Kana sat up straight.
Finally, something was happening.
Lysera's expression twisted into something like mild irritation. She tapped a communicator stone strapped to her wrist and muttered something Kana didn't catch.
Then she looked at Kana.
"I have to go."
Kana tried—really tried—not to look too excited.
"Oh, no, that's terrible,"
She said, already halfway to sprawling on the bed.
Lysera raised an eyebrow.
"Don't go anywhere. I'll be back soon."
"Absolutely. Wouldn't dream of it."
The door shut behind her with a solid click.
Kana stared at the ceiling for a beat. Then threw her arms wide and groaned in relief.
"Freedom. Sweet, blessed freedom."
She whispered.
She flopped fully onto the bed, sighing into the pillows.
"I thought I was going to die under that stare."
Just as she started to melt into the sheets, she felt something brush against her cheek.
Kana's eyes snapped open.
Hovering above her, barely inches from her face, was a woman.
A very pretty, very close woman with long, golden-blonde hair, glimmering eyes, and a smile far too amused for Kana's liking.
Kana let out a strangled sound somewhere between a scream and a yelp and shot backward—falling off the side of the bed in the least graceful way possible.
The stranger blinked down at her innocently.
"Darling~ I'm back!.... Oh dear. Did I scare you?"
Kana scrambled up, heart pounding.
"Who are you?! And why are you in my face?!"
The woman tilted her head. Her expression was dreamy and soft, but her eyes sparkled with a curious mischief.
"You're not Lysera."
Kana stared at her.
"No. I'm the other confused woman in this house."
The stranger gave a light pout.
"I was hoping to surprise her. But you're kind of cute too, I suppose."
Kana blinked. Then narrowed her eyes.
"Okay, seriously, who are you?"
The elf gave a breezy shrug, still hovering far too close.
"Don't worry about it."
"Yeah, see, I am worrying about it. Because I woke up to a stranger's face about three inches from mine, and now you're acting like you live here."
Kana said, backing up a step.
The elf smiled, innocent as a flower.
"Maybe I do."
"You just said you were looking for someone."
"Maaaybe I was just curious."
Kana stared at her, deadpan.
"This is the worst conversation I've ever had."
The elf twirled a lock of her golden hair and leaned closer again.
"You want to get out of here?"
"Wha—no! Why would I go anywhere with you?"
"You look like you could use some fresh air. And I was planning to kidnap someone today anyway."
The elf said, walking casually around the room like she owned it.
Kana blinked.
"Excuse me!?"
The elf stopped, turned back to her, and smiled like it was the most normal thing in the world. "C'mon. It'll be fun."
"No. Absolutely not. I've had enough of strange women manhandling me for one lifetime, thanks."
Kana folded her arms.
The elf's smile didn't fade.
"That wasn't a no."
"IT WAS VERY MUCH A NO."
A beat of silence passed. The elf tilted her head, as if considering something.
Then, without warning, she stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Kana's waist, and lifted her clean off the floor.
Kana shrieked.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING—?!"
The elf hoisted her over her shoulder with alarming ease.
"Helping you touch some grass."
"PUT ME DOWN!"
"No can do."
"YOU CAN'T JUST KIDNAP ME—THIS IS ILLEGAL! I THINK??"
The elf strolled toward the door, completely unfazed.
"You humans are so dramatic."
Kana kicked her legs helplessly, fists pounding against the elf's back.
"This is literally the definition of dramatic!"
"You weren't doing anything. I'm solving your boredom problem."
"I WASN'T BORED, I WAS TERRIFIED!"
"Oh, relax. You'll thank me later."
"I'll sue you later!"
The elf grabbed a cloak from the chair near the doorway and slung it over Kana like she was wrapping up luggage.
"You're really fussy for someone with such a pretty face."
"I—THAT IS—FLATTERY WILL NOT STOP ME FROM BITING YOU!"
"Ooh, feisty. I like that."
The elf said, stepping out the door.
Kana groaned into the fabric of the cloak.
"I hate it here."
"I'm not even doing anything yet."
The elf chirped.
"You're kidnapping me!"
"I prefer 'spontaneous field trip.'"
Kana could already feel the neighbors staring as they walked out into the daylight, her legs flailing in protest.
"I swear, if I ever get a moment of peace in this world, I'm gonna cry from the shock."
She muttered.
"See? You're already feeling things again. This is good for you."
___
Power Stones Please.