Chapter 549: Nolen, the Goddess of Fate
Looking at Yin's petite and adorable figure retreating, Kai smiled faintly and turned around.
He saw a slender, graceful figure standing there.
Her body seemed to radiate a platinum-like holy light, and her soft skin glowed as if she were a fairy.
Snow-white, flowing hair cascaded down, and a platinum ribbon covered her eyes.
At a glance, she appeared like a goddess descended to the mortal world.
However, the newspaper she held in her hand seemed slightly out of place.
Kai approached the beauty, took the newspaper from her, and let it float casually beneath a pink flower tree before drawing closer.
"Little Nolen, are you sulking?" he asked.
"How could I be? My master." Nolen replied.
"After all, I am your tool for creating and observing fate. How could a tool be angry?" she said with emphasis.
Hearing Nolen's pointed tone, Kai found it amusing.
Nolen was a new life he created over a year ago.
Her power system was that of a Stand, specifically the Wheel of Fortune, a prop-like Stand.
Her name came from the Norns, the three goddesses of fate in Norse mythology from Kai's previous life.
Her creation wasn't just for Kai's amusement but stemmed from a genuine need.
The other Stand orbs were crafted casually due to his perfectionist tendencies after creating Nolen.
She was the only one Kai poured his heart into.
Nolen was his ode to fate.
Her purpose was to observe and organize the destinies of the entire pirate world, extending beyond the planet to the whole Pirate Universe.
Of course, she couldn't achieve this yet; it was her future potential.
For now, her tasks were substantial.
These tasks tied into Kai's ultimate plans for the future, a crucial juncture, making her role far from easy.
Currently, she was busy every day, while Yin stayed by Kai's side constantly.
This imbalance naturally weighed on her.
"Your tone sounds quite resentful, little Nolen." Kai said.
He caressed her cheeks, lowered his head, and gently kissed her smooth forehead, smiling.
"But you didn't forget to bring me a newspaper even when upset. That's truly touching."
Whether it was Kai's kiss or his praise, Nolen's cheeks flushed.
"My master, don't think sweet words will make me happy."
Her cold, melodious voice trembled slightly.
"Is that so?" Kai asked.
He smiled, slid his fingers across her cheek, and pulled down the ribbon covering her eyes.
Then he kissed her cheeks, her eyes, and slowly moved to her alluring red lips.
After an indeterminate time, he parted from her lips.
Her closed eyes opened slowly.
Her platinum-like pupils shone brightly, reflecting the world's trajectories.
Countless particles floated around, yet Kai's figure remained clear in her eyes.
This was a manifestation of Nolen's ability.
Her Stand perfectly complemented her body, especially her eyes, which unconsciously tapped into her senses.
Her immense power, still immature, was hard to control fully.
Thus, she usually kept her eyes closed and covered with a ribbon, adding an air of mystery.
"So, how can I repay your kindness, cute little Nolen?" Kai asked.
Sometimes, words didn't need to be profound; a simple comfort from a loved one could nourish the heart like life-giving nectar.
At Kai's words, Nolen's eyes began to glow faintly.
She didn't protest but spoke without hesitation.
"I want a date like before."
"Alright, tomorrow then." Kai replied.
He wasn't heartless and would do his best to meet Nolen's requests for her hard work.
A little while later, Nolen covered her eyes with the ribbon again.
Yin had finished preparing the bento, thoughtfully making one for Nolen too.
But Nolen didn't linger.
If she ate the meal, she'd feel awkward refusing Yin's company for tomorrow's date.
Kaora was also waiting for her outside the valley.
"Let's go, Kaora." Nolen said.
Soon, Nolen reached the valley's edge.
A black-haired girl in a purple floral skirt stood there, staring blankly at the valley's entrance.
This was Kaora, a girl Nolen had taken in, who once used the Black Tower's Stand orb.
Her ability was spatial, allowing her Stand to create a Black Tower for teleportation.
In its normal state, that was its function.
But in a fully self-destructive mode, the Black Tower could emit waves, unleashing a terrifying spatial storm to obliterate opponents.
Currently, Kaora wasn't desperate by Nolen's side.
Nolen had initially planned to have Kaora join the Tarot organization, like the Sun, Moon, and Star sisters.
But Kaora, shy and fearful, begged to stay with Nolen, whose convenient abilities made her valuable.
Thus, Nolen kept her close.
As Nolen frequented Amazon Lily, Kaora grew familiar with some residents, becoming less wary of strangers.
Seeing Nolen approach, Kaora snapped out of her daze.
"Okay, Goddess."
A Black Tower slowly rose from the ground.
Squeak!
The heavy stone door opened.
Nolen stepped inside, and Kaora glanced back at the valley one last time.
She thought she saw him smiling at her.
"Kaora." Nolen called.
Hearing the goddess's voice, Kaora returned to her senses, her cheeks reddening.
She quickly followed Nolen into the Black Tower.
Squeak!
The black stone door closed, and teleportation began.
In moments, the Black Tower rose elsewhere.
Squeak!
The stone door opened again.
"What? Still thinking about my master?" Nolen asked.
Hearing the goddess's words, Kaora's face paled.
"I wouldn't dare, with my status…" she stammered.
Seeing Kaora's pale cheeks, Nolen gently touched them, mimicking Kai's gesture.
"Really, are you scared of me? You make me seem like a demon." Nolen said.
"No, no, Goddess, I just…" Kaora began.
"I know, you just feel inferior." Nolen said.
Looking at Kaora's lowered head, she continued, "What's there to feel inferior about? Nothing is eternal; all things are equal."
"They all meet a common end."
"So, you don't need to feel inferior. Compared to many, you're already exceptional."
"And…" Nolen lowered her hand and walked to the door, adding, "What you seek, you shall find. That is your destiny, Kaora."
Hearing Nolen's words, Kaora's lowered head snapped up.
Her dark pupils seemed to glow.
This was her destiny!
What she sought, she would find.
If that was true, it was truly, truly wonderful!
(End of this chapter)