Divinity of systems

The man sighs deeply and sits upright. He knew that his granddaughter was trying to hide whoever it happened to from him. And it got him more curious. He tells her. "Ophelia, there are different scenarios I can think of. The only reasonable one would be if the bad energy it had absorbed is from black magic or if the one who absorbed the energy, bad one included, has a system strong enough to absorb all the energy of the plant." He pauses and picks his glasses to wear again. "But that is very impossible.. the plant only gives off sixty percent of its energy. Only the old mages and sages can withdraw seventy percent of energy from it. Even supreme leaders like me can only absorb seventy percent."

"Does this mean no one can absorb all the energy enough to make it turn to black sooth?" 

"Exactly. Unless…" he shakes his head and smiles at his granddaughter. What ridiculous thought is he having. 

"Unless what?"

"Don't mind me. Did one of your friends absorb energy from it?" 

"No. The people at our office keep complaining about how their plants turn to black sooth a day after bringing it to the office. The plant in my bosses office also turned to black sooth. I was worried about it and decided to come ask." 

"Mmmm…" the old man stroked his beard and stared at his granddaughter. "Perhaps someone in your building is performing black magic." 

Ophelia immediately denies it. "Grandfather, that is impossible. The owner of the building clearly put a warning sign on the building to notify them of any black magic going on in the building. Besides, apart from my boss who comes from one of the founding families, no one else has a system in the building."

"Hmmm...there has to be an explanation for the plants turning to black soot though. Never mind. Put your mind at rest. I will inform you once I check the black soot." 

Ophelia nods her head am smiles at him. Although a part of her felt unsettled. What if someone is indeed using black magic in the building? She bids her grandfather goodbye promising to come back and spend the weekend with him. She knew she had to prepare for the following morning. 

Owen didn't spend much time at his mom's place and left after making small talks for some time. His mom didn't push him to stay for long since he had always been like that anyways. On his way home, he asked his AI. 

"What do you think the system will give me when I complete my first mission?" 

His AI shrugs her shoulders. "I wouldn't know. Should it not have told you? Young master, about that taxi man, why is he looking for his wife?" 

"For love probably. Perhaps she left him because he didn't have enough money and is now trying to get her back." That was the only reasonable explanation he had. Not to say he looked really worried about not seeing his wife. "I am just doing a good deed." He tells her as he bobs his head to the music in his head and maneuvered into his street. 

That night, Owen only had to reheat the food Aunty Fern had prepared for him. He went back to the study and picked the book on the Origin of system. Flipping to chapter two, he glances through the page and his system informs him. 

'Dear host, you will not be rewarded with any IQ or coin if you read this chapter.' 

He immediately closes the book and places it back on his table. He then starts to check the shelf for other books. There were no books that piqued his interest. Almost all the books on the shelf was about business strategies and analysis. The library was a huge one with almost as afar his eyes cold see ten huge shells. One was situated behind the desk and mounted on the wall. He saw a red book with its cover slightly open and walks to it. Picking it, he reads the title. 

"Divinity of systems." He flicks the book open and finds an empty page. Thinking it was nomal and only for the first page, he flipped it to the middle and found an empty page again. He continuously flips the page open and finds out the book consists of an empty page. 

Looking around for traces of his AI, she appears beside him.

"Good you are where. Look at this book. It only has empty pages all though. But it has a title." 

His AI took the book from him and flips through it. "I cannot read it as well. Ask the system why you cant read it." 

"gods, why cant I read this Divinity of system book?" 

'Dear host, the book is unavailable to someone at your level.'

Owen places his hand to his chest at the response and makes an 'Ouch' 

"Sound like an insult." He tells his AI before taking the book from her and returning it. He wonders if the previous Owen was able to read this book. He walks back to his room, ready to sleep. Just as the sleep was taking over his mind he jolts awake remembering that he had a nightmare the first time he had slept. 

Turning his thoughts elsewhere, he reminds himself he will only dream about what he was worried about. 

The following morning, the sun was brighter than the day before and as usual, Aunty Fern was around to replace the ingredients with fresh ones. Owen took his bath and walks to the dining where he met his food already dished out. 

"Good morning Aunty." He still had an hour before his appointment with Opehlia and Star competition company. 

"Good morning. Slept well?" 

He didnt have any nightmare and had relaxed really well. His body felt alive and his nerves had streched enough. "Very much." He was about to dig into his food when he got a notification from his system. 

'Dear host, daily quest, read chapter two of the book of systems and be rewarded with 10 IQ and 20 coins.' 

He rolls his eyes and begins to eat. His AI was relaxed on the couch staring at the TV although nothing interesting was showing on it. He hurridly finishes his food surprising Aunty Fern again.