~Artemis~

"What? A dark omen?" My eyebrows shot up in surprise, my gaze quickly shifting to Alesia. "That's what Dad wanted to talk about with the Fates?"

"Yes, my lady," Alesia replied solemnly, her voice laced with a hint of secrecy. "I wasn't supposed to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help overhearing the king and the Fates discussing a looming dark omen that threatens to unleash chaos upon Mount Olympus."

Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning. I had never even considered the possibility of something so ominous occurring on Olympus. Dark omens always spelled trouble, even for the gods themselves. Our countless misfortunes and constant power struggles were a glaring testament to that fact.

I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that this new threat was somehow connected to my father, and that his conversation with the Fates hadn't gone as smoothly as he had hoped.

"And that's all you heard?" I raised an eyebrow, waiting for Alesia to spill the beans. She hesitated, cheeks turning a shade of scarlet that matched a ripe tomato. I couldn't help but chuckle at her embarrassment.

"Yes, Lady Artemis. I didn't want to keep listening... otherwise, the king would punish me with two weeks of stable duty," she confessed, trailing off. I nodded, already having enough information to grasp the situation.

Looking around my room, I pondered what else I should pack for my upcoming adventure in the mortal world. Maybe a couple of my trusty hunting weapons would come in handy. You never know when you might find yourself in a sticky situation that requires some good old-fashioned brute force.

Sure, smiting any foolish humans or monsters that dare to mess with me is easy enough. But unleashing too much of my godly power would definitely draw unwanted attention to us Olympians. And I'm pretty sure Dad doesn't want a spotlight shining on our divine existence. So, I guess two hunting knives will do the trick.

With most of my belongings packed, Alesia decided to give me some alone time to rest, assuring me that I could call for her if I ever felt lonely. I thanked her and watched as she made her way towards the door.

But before she could leave, I called out to her once more, needing to express my gratitude. "Alesia, I just want to say..."

Her emerald eyes sparkled with admiration as she waited for me to continue. "Yes, Lady Artemis?"

"...Thank you, for everything. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend today," I finally managed to utter. A soft smile curved her lips, and she bowed respectfully before exiting my chambers, disappearing into the bustling hallway.

As the sound of the doors closing slowly faded, I released a heavy sigh, kneading my temples. "A dark omen, huh? That's really interesting," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. If it's such a dire situation, why hasn't Dad informed all of us yet? Perhaps he has his reasons, his own timing. Although...

"You know what, forget it," I mumbled, brushing off my thoughts. "Dad will tell us soon enough. Right now, I need to get dressed properly for my stay in the mortal world."

With the flick of my fingers, my hunting tunic transformed into a fashion-forward mortal outfit: a trendy blue knife pleat skirt, paired with a white long-sleeved shirt and my latest obsession, a blue zip-up hoodie. Checking my reflection to ensure I looked as great as I felt, I confidently stepped out of my room, clutching my suitcase tightly.

As I made my way towards the Parthenon, the sun began its descent, casting a golden glow on Mount Olympus. Dusk was slowly enveloping the majestic marble columns, creating an ethereal atmosphere that took my breath away. Though the sight was awe-inspiring, I couldn't afford to linger. Someone important was waiting for me, and it's none other than dear old Dad...

Finally arriving at the grand doors that led to the entrance of the Parthenon, I swung them open with anticipation. And there he was, Apollo, standing awkwardly in front of Dad's throne, his own suitcase already by his side. The moment he heard my footsteps echoing against the marble floors, he spun around, his bright gold eyes meeting mine. A sheepish grin spread across his face as he scratched the back of his neck.

"Hey... Sis..." he greeted hesitantly. We stared at each other in a brief, awkward silence. It was no surprise he was acting this way after our earlier encounter. He must still think I'm furious with him.

But even that didn't deter him from finding his voice, a newfound confidence shining through. "Artemis, listen... about what happened... I'm really—"

"Don't worry, Apollo. I'm not mad anymore," I interrupted, holding up my hand to halt his words. "Honestly, I'm sorry for overreacting," I confessed, guilt gnawing at my insides. "It was silly of me to get all touchy about what you said. After some serious reflection, I realized it was nothing, so you don't have to worry about me being angry at you—because I'm not."

Apollo looked utterly bewildered, like he couldn't believe his ears. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head, questioning why his strong-willed sister was apologizing and forgiving him in one breath. But his confusion melted away, replaced by a wave of relief.

"Wow, Artemis, I... well... thanks for forgiving me," he murmured softly, a shy smile gracing his lips as his gaze shifted downward.

"I see the two of you have finally arrived," a voice broke through our little moment. We both turned our heads toward the source, finding Dad already seated on his throne, his expression calm despite his intense gaze.

My brother and I stood there dumbfounded for a moment, before snapping back to reality and bowing hastily. "Father!" we exclaimed in unison.

"It appears that you both have finished preparing for your journey to the mortal realm," Zeus observed, his voice carrying a note of satisfaction. "Excellent. Then I hope you're ready, because I've finally found the perfect school for the two of you."

We exchanged a weary glance, wearing the same exhausted expression, as the realization hit us simultaneously. We are literally being banished from Olympus...