While the four walked, they finished their little snack, and did a little exploring. Ceraunius and Gamelia guided through a deliberate path for two reasons…
First, there was the obvious, and that was to give their new familia time to gather from all of their duties. Since it was still early in the morning it would be rather odd for the Astraea familia to be down in the dungeon on expedition, especially since they now had the future power to pressure the guild just a little bit.
Second, there were many little shops here and there, run by average unblessed people, as well as some small familias, ones that had once, and proven to still think Zeus & Hera familias had made Orario a better place. The sight of the last members in the city again, no longer sneaking around was a sign of a monumental shift in their moods. One unblessed man and his wife starred in awe.
"Father, Mother? What's wrong, you look like you've seen a ghost." Their adult son asked.
"Son, you remember how we told you stories of our benefactors." The father said, snapping out of his trance.
"Yeah, you served Zeus familia as go between of sorts, right?"
"Well, their final remnants have returned to the city at last." The mother explained.
"Wait, really?"
"Yes, I know that Lord Ganesha, and Lady Astraea's familias are noble and strong… but compared to the feeling the members of God King Zeus, and Goddess Queen Hera's familias gave off…"
"Is entirely different, right?" The son asked.
"That's right." The father nodded. "We'll soon have our work cut out for us. This slump in our business will soon be but a memory."
"I could be wrong, but Lady Astraea's familia seems to be walking around with a powerful confidence about them now too, it's much like Lady Hera's ladies. Do you think that?"
"It's possible, those two acting so openly like this… It's clear they are acting like they have the right to live here. They're returning and joining another familia to do it. I can't imagine the pain in their hearts right now." The father said with a nod and a sigh.
"Father, Mother, didn't the last remnants attack the city 2 years ago during the great feud?"
"Son, that was nothing more than them testing the city, and those two, Lady Alfia, and Lord Zald, were both dying from incurable conditions. Everyone grew stronger after that trial."
"That was just a test?" The son barely kept from stammering and trembling. "So many people died. I know, I helped dig the graves and expand the graveyard." He said, shaking.
"Son, you alright?"
The son fell to a chair. "Yes Mother. But that… Just a test?"
"Yes, dear, Lady Alfia could have destroyed the city in a single spell if she really wanted to."
"And Lord Zald would have been able to destroy it almost as fast if he really tried to. Which means they were purposely holding back."
"But Ottar from the Freya familia defeated Zald, right? It even leveled him up."
"He killed him alright, that's true. Which should just go to show how, to use a term the gods have used, Zald was built differently. Lord Zald, while on death's door, held back a considerable portion of his ability, which still pushed Ottar to go all out, and earn that level up."
"I-I-I see… So they willingly threw them against them to cause others to rise up from their ashes… heh… I guess the city failed then."
"Also, it's important to remember that both of them were members of the Evil God Erebus' familia at the time. It doesn't take a genius to see that even he had planned the whole thing out for a grand design in the test of Orario."
"So much… I think I need to go lay down…"
Similar situations were occurring all along the path the party of four walked, it was quite an interesting scene to say the least.
What's more is that, thanks to them being akin to high ranking spirits, bordering on being grand ones, elves stopped and stared, then lost themselves in joy.
"Today is going to be a good day!" One cheered.
"Spirits… So beautiful…" Another said.
"She's more beautiful than our princess Lady Riveria." One said.
"Hey, don't be disrespectful like that, it's rude to compare a spirit like her to our princess, and unfair to our princess." Another berated.
"Oh, sorry."
Bell tugged on Gamelia's hand, and looked up to her with a smile.
"Big sister, are there any elves in the familia were going to?"
"Pfft, we'll be there soon. Let the suspense build until we get there."
"Bell, that's the wrong question." Zaria said, with a cute huff showing her confidence.
"Huh? Why's that?"
"Because we know the goddess likes cute things, and cute people. So obviously elves will be there. So the real question is how many?"
"Oh, yeah, you're right! I can't wait to see them, I bet they're all super nice, and heroic!"
"Yeah! They'll be the bestest!"
The twins cheered giggling along with a childish conversation about guessing how many elves would be in their new familia. While they did that Ceraunius made sure to give a few nods to the people he wanted to, and Gamelia giggled along with the childish antics of the twins.
It was a peaceful morning walk through the city, and one that proved to the lovers that the city was accepting them. Even if Freya and Loki didn't like it, they'd have to deal with it, especially after they learned from Riveria's senses that Ceraunius had held back a considerable might.
Eventually, their path came to an end at a beautiful looking mansion. It showed some signs of having a few remodels done to it. Ceraunius sensed something off though, there were a small handful of others inside.
"New additions to the familia while we were gone?" He wondered.
"Maybe? It seems like there's four new members, a level 4, a pair at level 3, and someone at level 1. I wonder what their story is?" Gamelia pondered.
"Well, let's go inside to find out."
The party opened the gate, closing it behind them, and then went up to the door, with a single powerful knock.
The people inside scrambled…