With the only thing breaking the silence, the others were very quick to grow a little red, and decided to talk about things, anything. Ardee, despite being the first one to ask Ceraunius and Gamelia for the books, was not the first one to reach the stacks of them.
"Ardee, there's a whole lot of reading material here." Tiona beamed. "They're complete stories about the heroes in Zeus and Hera familia! I bet one of these books has the secret to big boobs!" She said, grabbing a book with the name of an amazoness, Caotan, and began to read.
Next up was Tione, and she chose a book from the other piles. One about how to really get everything out of the falna. She sat down, and began reading the book with wide eyes, and having many involuntary slaps to her forehead… "This book is making me feel dumb for everything I've already missed. It almost makes me wish I could start over from level 1."
"Pfft, I'm sure we'll all learn a few things along those lines." Alise said once again with her signature smile. "It is free time now anyway. We can leave rounds to the Ganesha familia for a while. So go ahead and read."
"Uhm, what about tonight's dinner?" Iska asked, practically drooling.
"If Ceraunius is willing to cook again, we should at the very least make sure to be fully stocked on ingredients. But what to get for them? Not like we know what they'll make."
"My big brother can make anything!" Bell spoke out with confidence.
"That's right, he makes all other food worship his food!" Zaria added, cheerfully. "He can make anything. So what do you want to eat is the question." She added with a smirk.
The debate that followed after Zaria's statement was long, and extremely heated. Bell got up from Astraea's lap, and went to grab a book, came back and sat down again. "Mommastraea, can you read this to us? It's my favorite hero story!" He beamed with expectation.
Astraea familia, having never used that name before, were flabbergasted by the use of such a word, and then it happened. Astraea swooned, and snuggled Bell and Zaria in close, and opened the book. She'd not been called that before, and it made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The book was the Two Quests.
While reading, Astraea realized the whole familia was eagerly listening to the story despite some having already chosen their own books to read. Her voice was soothing and enjoyable, so much so, that no one realized Ceraunius and Gamelia had returned from their room, freshly bathed, at least until the last of the picture books was finishing up.
"... And so, the terror of the sky did not fall." Astraea finished, seeing the two kids capable of showing empathy. "That was a rough story for hero books." She said with a forced smile, closing the book gently.
"That's because the story of the third quest has not yet concluded. The responsibility of conquering it, remains, only shifted unto others." Ceraunius stated, getting ready to prepare dinner.
"It'll be a complete story once that thing falls." Gamelia added, with a glow about her.
"That was fast…"
"No it wasn't, my husband and I were at it for hours. You just couldn't get enough of the hero stories." Gamelia retorted.
Everyone's bellies started growling, and Ceraunius looked around the kitchen, taking note of all the ingredients currently available.
"I'll have dinner ready in a little bit." Ceraunius called out, having heard the many hungry grumbles, and smiled to himself.
"Everyone, time to get cleaned up for dinner."
Astraea familia, now having a boy and a man in the familia, were a little hesitant to get into the bath. However, seeing how Bell and Zaria acted together made it a fair bit easier for them to get used to Bell's presence.
With Gamelia joining them, in spite of already being incredibly clean as it was, made it even easier to get comfortable being so exposed.
In fact it really only boiled down to one person really struggling, and that was Ryuu…
Bell was resting, nestled into Gamelia's lap, his head in between her breasts. "What's wrong little sister Ryuu?" Gamelia asked, petting Bell's hair causing him to giggle.
"You're a spirit, and that boy is taking advantage of you…" Ryuu murmured, embarrassed.
"Pfft, no, he's my little brother. I'm just helping him to grow accustomed to being naked with women. There's nothing wrong with that. Skinship is important for one's growth and development. I also gain a lot out of this." She giggled in her reply.
"Huh?"
"Well, when I have my baby, and they're a boy, would it be right for me to forgo all of my responsibilities to ensure their health and safety? To include hygiene? My husband and I already have a lot on our plates, so we share everything."
"But it's the other sex…"
"And yet, I'm a spirit in your eyes, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then I am one with nature."
"That's right!"
"Then what's more natural than being nude? We're all born this way, and it's also how one brings new life."
"EEP!"
"But I love Bell as my adorable little brother. And I want him to learn what it takes for a woman to be worthy of him." Gamelia smiled. "If anything I'm worried Zaria will miss out thanks to Cera cooking instead of bathing with us."
"I see your point Gamelia, but it might be best to slowly wean the girls onto someone with Cera's physique. He's not the average man after all." Astraea said, slightly holding Zaria a little bit tighter as if not wanting to give her up.
"Pfft, I'm sure Zaria is smart enough to understand what kind of man is worthy of her."
"I do! And I won't let any unworthy women near my beloved brother! I'll take that role before any unworthy ones can." Zaria declared again, not in the least bit scared about any implications that might give others.
The bath erupted into more conversation after that little outburst, but it was all in good fun, and to get relaxed around each other. Once they finished their bath they had a wonderful meal prepared for them, and Zaria ran over, giving Ceraunius a hug and snuggle just before jumping down into her chair, ready for a meal.
The meal went on for a while, the four additions to the familia, Tiona, Tione, Chloe, and Maris were all stunned by how good the food was… And that night had the best sleep they'd ever had.