An outing

"At least he could have sent a goodbye before leaving," Venus murmured, disheartened, upon hearing from her mother that Odin had left early in the morning when she was soundly sleeping. He left not a single message for her.

"He always saw you as an enemy, not a friend. That's why it happened," her inner voice whispered cynically.

Venus wondered why she even cared. She knew Odin's true nature well enough. He never believed in welcoming or bidding farewell to those he didn't consider close.

"Venus, why are you plucking weeds?" Rhea's voice interrupted her thoughts. Venus lifted her head, squinting against the bright sun. Her hat had slipped down to her nape, revealing her disheveled hair.

Rhea hurried over and helped her to her feet, her expression bewildered. "Look at your arms and face! You've gotten dirt all over yourself," she exclaimed with concern.