My System Doesn't Give Power

Chapter 64: The Cottage on the Hill

The walk to Armani’s residence was surprisingly quiet.

After leaving the administration building, Armani didn’t say a word. She simply shoved her hands into her pockets and started walking.

Zac followed behind her like a puppy without saying anything.

The academy became less crowded the farther they went.

The busy streets gave way to stone paths that led to the gardens. By the time they reached the hill behind the academy, there was almost nobody around.

"You’re really living all the way up here?" Zac asked.

"Do you have any problem with that?"

"No. Just surprised."

"You shouldn’t be. I just don’t like noisy places."

A few minutes later, they reached the top.

Zac stopped walking and became amazed by the sight before him.

"...Okay."

Armani smirked. "Go ahead and say it."

"This place looked like something out of a painting."

A crystal-clear pond with koi and a large stone Buddha statue at the center.

Several colorful birds flew between the trees. Bamboo groves surrounded the area, gently swaying in the breeze.

A narrow wooden bridge crossed the pond and led toward a small, cozy wooden cottage surrounded by beautiful flowers.

"You live here?"

"Disappointed?"

"NO! No." Zac looked around once more. "I just didn’t expect someone as powerful and influential as you to live in a place like this."

"Really, why do you say that?"

"Well, if you promise not to get angry..."

"Out with it."

Zac scratched his cheek. "The thing is, from everything I’ve heard and seen, you’re wild, domineering, the kind of person who doesn’t follow rules, doesn’t care what anyone thinks, and just does whatever she wants."

Armani raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"But this place..." Zac glanced around at the pond, flowers, and swaying bamboo. "It’s peaceful, serene, cozy, and honestly kind of romantic. Pretty much the opposite of what I expected from you."

Armani didn’t respond. She simply turned and started walking across the bridge.

Zac blinked. "Are you angry at me?"

"Why would I be?"

"You didn’t say anything."

"You said exactly what you thought, and I was the one who asked you to." Armani continued walking. "There’s nothing wrong with that."

After a brief pause, she added, "People assume powerful people live in giant castles with twenty guards standing around all day. That’s not always true. Some of us prefer places like this."

She looked around at the cottage and the surrounding garden. "Here, I can be who I really am. No one is here to judge me or comment on everything I do."

Then she gestured toward the cottage. "Come on. Let’s go inside."

With that, she walked ahead, and Zac followed behind her.

The cottage was surprisingly simple, just as it had looked from the outside. It had only one bedroom, a living room, a small kitchen, and a bathroom.

Unlike the cold marble buildings scattered throughout the academy, this place felt lived in. Books were piled everywhere, worn-out weapons hung on the walls, a small kettle sat on the kitchen counter, and a half-finished puzzle rested on the table.

"You do puzzles?" Zac asked.

"I start them," Armani said. "Then I get bored halfway through."

Zac glanced around again. "Wait. There’s only one bedroom."

"Yes. Which is why you’re sleeping on the couch."

She paused for a second.

"Unless you’re the cuddling type."

Zac nearly choked. "I... yeah. Couch. Definitely couch."

"Good," Armani smirked. "Because after what you pulled today, having a place to sleep is already more than you should expect."

"Yes, ma’am."

Armani tossed him a blanket. "Here. It gets colder once the sun goes down."

Zac caught it and frowned. "Why does it smell like jasmine?"

"Oh, that." Armani shrugged. "I think I forgot to wash it." freewebnøvel.coɱ

[You are one lucky guy.]

"Like hell I am."

"Are you sure you don’t have any fresh ones?" Zac asked.

"No. You can always give it back and sleep in the cold."

Zac looked at the blanket for a moment. "No. Jasmine is a good smell."

Armani gave him a look before walking into the kitchen. A few minutes later, she returned carrying two cups of tea and handed one to him.

Zac took a sip. "How did you know I like tea?"

"I didn’t."

"Oh."

"I like tea."

"...Right."

For a moment, the cottage fell silent. "Can I ask you something?" Zac said.

"Go ahead."

Zac hesitated for a second. "You talk like you despise me, but then you do stuff like this." He raised his cup slightly. "So, which is the real you?"

"Both."

Armani took a sip of her tea. "I talk to you the same way I talk to everyone else, and the taking-care-of-me part?"

"I’m doing that because of your mother."

Her answer came so quickly that Zac almost thought she’d been expecting the question.

"Fine. But why did you threaten everyone not to talk to me about my father?"

Armani leaned back in her chair. "Because you haven’t reached the point where you should know about him."

Zac frowned. "What does that mean?"

"You see," Armani said, "other than the things you already know about him, everything else is classified." Her expression turned serious. "Just knowing some of it could get you killed."

"The farther you stay from your father’s affairs, the better your chances of staying alive."

Zac stared into his tea for a moment. "I get that, but shouldn’t that be my choice to make?"

Armani looked at him. "Why do you think your mother took you away from Central City?"

Zac hesitated. "Because she couldn’t forget him?" he said. "Because everything there reminded her of him?"

"That’s only part of it." Armani shook her head. "The real reason is much simpler."

She took a slow sip of tea before continuing. "The moment your father’s disappearance became public, your mother knew the people who hated him would come after her and her family."

"That’s why she erased every record she could find about you from the Variant Association’s database and disappeared without telling anyone."

"She took you to a small city where nobody knew who you guys were."

"Even now," Armani continued, "your mother would do anything to protect you from your father’s enemies."

She set her cup down. "So no, Zac. Until you prove to your mother that you’re strong enough or become someone capable of dealing with the things your father left behind, I won’t let anyone tell you more about him."

"And that’s final."

For several moments, neither of them spoke. Then Zac finally broke the silence. "I’m his son, you know."

"Good." Armani didn’t even blink. "Then ask me anything regarding his personal life, but as for his life as a variant?"

"That is something you’ll have to earn. Prove you’re strong enough and worthy of knowing the truth. Until then, the answer will always be no."

Her tone left no room for further arguments.

The evening went far more smoothly than Zac had expected.

After dinner, he stepped outside and wandered around the cottage grounds. From where he stood, he could see countless lights scattered across the valley below as cool wind brushed against his face as he took in the view.

Eventually, he made his way back to the cottage. The moment he opened the door, his entire being froze.

Armani stood in the hallway with nothing but a towel wrapped around her body. For a brief second, Zac’s brain completely stopped working.

[Damn. Other than her personality and attitude, everything about her is perfect.]

"Hey." Her voice snapped him back to reality. "Do you like what you’re seeing?"

"Yes. No!"

Zac instantly turned around.

Armani snorted. "Where have you been?"

"Just outside," Zac said, staring very intently at the wall. "Getting some air."

"Whatever." She casually walked past him. "I’m going to take a bath. You can use it after I’m done."

"Fine."

Armani stopped and glanced over her shoulder. "And before you say anything, I know you love peeking at women while they’re bathing."

Zac nearly choked. "That was a misunderstanding, and you know it!"

"I know." A grin appeared on her face.

"I just wanted to clarify it one more time." She pointed a finger at him. "And trust me, I won’t be as subtle as that ice girl."

Her smile widened. "I’d rather not be the one explaining to my sister that I killed her son because he peeked at me while I was bathing."

"You’re never going to let that go, are you?"

"Not a chance."

Still chuckling to herself, Armani disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Zac standing there with his face burning and the system laughing uncontrollably in the back of his mind.

Zac remained on the couch until Armani finished her bath.

Once the bathroom was free, he took a quick shower himself before returning to the living room. The couch wasn’t exactly comfortable, but after the long day he’d had, it felt good enough.

He lay down, staring at the wooden ceiling.

[Well, the day went better than I expected.]

"Yeah," Zac muttered. "Other than what happened at the dormitories, everything was fine."

[Don’t lie to me.]

"What?"

[Do you honestly mean to tell me you weren’t at least a little happy about seeing what you saw earlier?]

Zac groaned. "No. Do you think I’m some kind of maniac who enjoys seeing women naked?"

[You don’t have to be a maniac for that.]

"Whatever." Zac pulled the blanket over his head. "Talking to you will only make me irritated."

Before long, exhaustion won, and he drifted off to sleep.

***

Several hours later, deep into the night, the bedroom door slowly opened. Armani stepped out and quietly stood in the doorway.

The cottage was silent with the moonlight filtering through the windows, casting a pale glow across the room.

Her eyes settled on the sleeping teenager sprawled across the couch. For a few moments, she simply watched him.

Slowly, a faint smile appeared on her face.

Then Zac shifted in his sleep and turned onto his side. The movement was enough to snap Armani back to reality. Without making a sound, she immediately retreated into the bedroom and gently closed the door.

[Would you look at that...]

Unfortunately, Zac was already deep asleep and didn’t hear a word.

Outside the cottage, the academy never truly slept.

Countless lights glittered across the mountainside beneath the artificial stars and moon hanging above the Academy Realm. Even at this late hour, students and staff could still be seen moving through the distant streets.

[Tomorrow would be orientation day. The official beginning of Zac’s life as an Academy student. And, knowing his luck, probably the beginning of a whole collection of new problems.]

[But those are tomorrow’s problems.]

[For now, let’s sleep.]