15. Outworlder

As the group treks over rocky desert toward the manor, Jason hydrates from Farrah’s stores while the others explain their world. Rufus introduces the concept of outworlders—people pulled from other worlds by failed magic—prompting Jason to ask if return is possible. Rufus suggests high-level magic might be required, offering little hope.

Rufus asks if Jason has a guiding system foreign to their world. Jason acknowledges his invisible interface of quests, inventory, and map. They realize his speech and reading come from an ability providing language adaptation, which the others recognize by his neutral accent and odd idioms.

Discussing races and gifts, Farrah outlines innate advantages among peoples like leonids and elves. Rufus notes humans advance essence abilities faster, but clarifies Jason is now technically an outworlder race. Jason lists six racial gifts—Interface, Quest System, Inventory, Map, Astral Affinity, and Mysterious Stranger—confirming his outworlder nature.

They rest in shade as Jason’s condition worsens under the heat. The team demonstrates using bronze spirit coins as concentrated magic sustenance and explains Adventure Society work, adventurer ranks, and how four essences make an iron-rank being who can subsist primarily on magic. They reassure Jason food and water can still suffice in low-magic places.

Jason admits he absorbed his first essence without a ritual and passed out; Farrah and Rufus plan to oversee future attempts after rescuing Anisa. Resuming their march, they spot a distant green patch. With Jason flagging, Rufus orders more water and asks Gary to carry him as they push toward their destination.