In the end, the need for more knowledge won out. Still, she wasn't an idiot. Scooping up the club, he had assured her that it was real so hopefully it would give him a moment's pause at least. Steeling her nerves, she started slowly walking across the clearing. To her surprise, there wasn't really a lot of leaf litter or sticks on the ground. Instead, the ground was cool and soft under her feet. She wouldn't go so far as to call it velvety, but it was definitely comfortable.

Absently tossing that observation in the pile of things to think about later, she walked steadily over until she was standing a few feet away from him. "Ok, what now?"

His face had warmed, his expression turning reassuring and kind, "Let's sit. I'm sure that you have a lot of questions. I'll do my best to answer what I can."

She sighed but moved over to the base of the large tree that he indicated and settled herself comfortably. He sat across from her, his hands resting comfortably where she could see them and see that he didn't have a weapon. She didn't buy it for a minute, but she did appreciate his attempt to put her at ease. Drumming her fingers absently on her knee, she knew that it was up to her to start the conversation. "You said that you're a guardian and your name is Ward?"

He nodded, "Aye. I'm the guardian of this section, which means that you're under my protection. Normally, I would've gotten a notification of your impending arrival and been here to greet you, but I have the feeling that there is nothing normal about this situation."

She was surprised at that, "Don't tell me that this area is some kind of trafficking ring? Audilandre, did you say? The middle of nowhere is not the usual location for this kind of thing. Although I suppose out in the countryside away from prying eyes and technology makes sense, less able to track."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Miss Willows, this is not a trafficking situation. I promise you, you are safe and free to leave anytime you wish, although I do not advise it. There are still some dangerous creatures in this area, although their population is under control at the moment." He sighed again, studying her closely, his eyes intense yet thoughtful. "How can I prove to you that you haven't been kidnapped and that this isn't some sort of crazy nightmare you're having?"

She shrugged, "Honestly, the purple trees are not really helping convince me that this is all real. This whole situation is so beyond anything I've ever known and I've seen some pretty odd things in my lifetime. Is it so hard for everyone to understand that I just want to live a normal life? Just to my job and live my life, make friends, and just live?" She narrowed her eyes at him, "I'm just a trend analyst for novels, nothing important, nothing special. So why would I have been chosen for an adventure, like you seem to think I've been? I think it's more likely that someone wants some of my father's fortune."

He shrugged, "You're a star traveler, trust me. You are clearly not from Audilandre. I wasn't from here originally either, so I know who is a native and who isn't. But everyone that has come to Audilandre has come to escape their old life. They are chosen, we don't know how, because they have something unique to offer this world. Star travelers are world changers, literally. They dream of something else, something different from what they are, and because of this they are offered the chance to come here. Some don't, preferring to stay in whatever their origin world is. But most choose to come here, to start a new life."

She studied him, he seemed rational enough, but his words made no sense. "You know how outlandish that sounds, right? Me, a world changer? I can't even change my own life, let alone anyone else's. In case you haven't noticed, I'm the one who's been kidnapped for the third time. Life plans are not going so great."

He shrugged, "The system is never wrong, although it's seldom how the star travelers think it will be. But they always bring something unique that benefits Audilandre and its people."

She frowned at him, "You keep saying system like that's supposed to mean something to me."

He brightened at her words, "I know how to prove to you that this is not some dream or kidnapping. Say: Menu."

Thrown by the change, she repeated blankly, "Menu?"

A translucent blue screen appeared before her eyes, words appearing on it in bold letters: Welcome to Audilandre, Allegria Willows

She'd let out a small shriek of surprise when the screen popped up, her heart rabbiting in her chest. Then the words dawned on her and she let out a groan. Scowling at Ward, she gritted out, "This can't be real, I can not possibly have been Isekai'd. It's a popular fiction trope, not an actual thing. I must be in a coma, it's the only possible explanation."