Chapter 10 - The System awakes

At night, Rowan met Alex again.

"It appears that our meeting was predestined," Alex said.

"Yes, it's a fate for us. Is there any news regarding the thing I asked?". Rowan was Impatient.

"Although it cost me 2 of my soldier's life, we managed to secure the posters and there is indeed one for a man named Henry. I don't know if he is the same person you are looking for but he is an old man with white hair and a Mark on his neck" Alex responded calmly.

"Yes, that's uncle Henry. I'm so glad that he managed to survive." Rowan was really happy about it. He almost started jumping in happiness, but then he remembered Ali told him to keep calm always, else the other party will take advantage of him." Thank you for your help. I don't know how, but I'll repay you for the sacrifice of the two soldiers". Rowan said calmly.

Alex became surprised because he can see Rowan forcefully suppressing his emotions rather quickly. "There must be someone behind him," Alex thought.

"So, my friend did you try to use your locket?." Alex wanted to know the answer because it is the most important thing for his plans.

"Yes but I couldn't find anything. It's just a locket with a mirror. I can't find any abnormalities about it.". Rowan felt helpless. Because it's also something he needs for returning to his planet.

"Why don't we try this inside the dream world?" Alex suggested.

When Rowan open the locket, there was suddenly a mirror appeared in the dream world. It was giant and the images kept changing but it gave them their reflection. It was like their background keep changing. Rowan slowly touched the mirror and his hand went inside. He quickly pulled it back. But when Alex tried to enter, he couldn't.

They have done a lot of experiments but Alex couldn't make his hands go inside.

"Give me your hand, let's try to enter together". Alex finally came up with a plan.

When they tried together, they both managed to enter.

"It looks like I need your help to enter. Let's go.".

The world inside the mirror was almost same the as the dream world. Except there were only 3 mirrors with an image.

Suddenly a warning sound can be heard.

"ALERT!!!"

"Presence of another system detected"

"Entering defence mode"

"System managed to isolate the unknown system"

The warning signals stopped and the entire mirror world lighted up.

Suddenly Alex's locket can be seen covered in lights. It almost looked like the locket got sealed by light.

While Alex was wondering what happened to his locket. Something strange happened to Rowan. He got to see a window with little information about him. And the same voice can be heard.

"System restarting"

"Host detected"

"Scanning for host level."

"Scanning completed"

Status:

Hostname: Rowan

Race: Human

Host level: 0

Achievement unlocked: 0

Title unlocked: 0

System function Unlocked: 1

Mirrors unlocked: 3"

Rowan became amazed. He never thought there would be an AI inside the mirror world.

"Can you tell me what this locket is?"

Rowan asked the system

"Unauthorised to answer. For answering this question, the host should be at least level 1. The host doesn't meet the requirement."

Rowan became a little disappointed.

Suddenly system issued a mission.

Alert: a new mission has been issued.

Mission: Help Alex to reboot his system.

Mission hint: Due to system intervention, Alex's system will automatically reboot once you leave the mirror world.

Reward: 100exp

"What?. It's that simple?" Rowan didn't think it was too easy to complete the first mission.

"Hey Rowan what are you doing there?. Come here and check the mirrors".

Alex called Rowan towards a mirror.

Inside the mirror, an image of earth can be seen. But it was blurry.

"It's earth, I saw the pictures on the internet. Does it mean, this mirror can take as to earth?".

But when Rowan touched it, he couldn't go inside.

"Warning. Unauthorised access.

Required level: level 1 "

"Hey Rowan what with the face, why are you absent-minded. Is there something wrong?. Alex became worried.

But Rowan simply smiled "Alex do you want to see magic ?. Just come with me outside and I'll show you" Rowan forcefully took Alex put.

When they came to the dream world. The light on Alex locked removed and Alex showed a weird face.

After some time Alex showed an excited face.

"Haha Alex, how is it ?. Did you also get a system. And what is your first mission?".

Rowan was really happy.

Alex smiled and said "It's better than I expected. I only thought I will somehow be able to teleport to your planet. But it looks like I also gained a lot. I'm level 2. I passed 2 missions.

The first one is for helping you to reboot your system. The second one is a hidden mission.

The system said I managed to use the locket without the help of the system, it considered it as completing the hidden mission. There is also an achievement unlocked. It's a kinda weird name but it said by completing the hidden mission, I managed to unlock the achievement "the detective: there is nothing as a secret for the detective".

And Rowan please accept the request I'm sending you".

Suddenly Rowan's system gives a pop-up message

"The Dream mirror asked your permission to set a gateway. Do you accept the request?".

"What is it ?. How can Alex have so much power?. He only manages to reboot the system after me. It's not fair. Locket, please tell me why Alex has more options ?.

Rowan was rather unhappy.

But the system didn't give any reply. only repeated the same message.

"The Dream mirror asked you permission to give it to set one gateway. Do you accept the request?".

"Yes, I accept" Rowan accepted the request.

But nothing happened after that.

But Alex can be seen as really happy.

"Hey, Alex what was that ?. How can your system request something to mine?.

Why I'm still level 0?. While you are level 2 already. And what is that request for".

Rowan was a little angry.

Alex smiled and said "It's just a gateway. I got this as a reward for unlocking an achievement. From now I can go to your planet and mine as I please. I can even bring people with me."

Rowan became even angrier

"System, I'm asking where is my reward?. I completed the reward, why I didn't get any reward?."

"Host doesn't have authority to get the reward in dream space. System recommend the host to exit the world.".

Finally, rowan became calm. It looks like he needs to go wake up to get his rewards.

Alex suddenly walked near Rowan and patted his shoulder.

"Friend its looks like time is almost up, let's meet the other side" Alex smiled as the world started to fade.

Rowan finally opened his eyes.