“I’m sorry. I will pray for her soul. It’s—good of you, all of you, to continue fighting evil even though it is dangerous to you. I hope that I can be of some assistance, I just—I worry, about disturbing demons. I know that everything that happens is the Almighty’s will, and I trust in His plan, but that doesn’t always make me less afraid. I—truly am sorry, about your friend.”

"Thank you. I... we are only just starting to learn about demons, and it can be hard to tell what will drive them away from what will anger them or make them stronger. Sister Berhane said that you've done exorcisms before..?"

“Yes. Several. Different amounts of...” She trails off, gestures vaguely in the air with her hands. “Only one where I was attacked.” Pause. “I can ask God for miracles, if I must. He has listened to me before. Are you believers...? It is easier to pray for miracles with a group. It is not something that should be done casually, but I expect your group might need one in the future, and... it is better to say now, yes?”

"I never thought much about it, before, but... I've seen demons with my own eyes, now. I sure hope there are miracles, too. --Anemone believes in everything. Mordred believes in nothing. I have no idea what Oswald believes. Lev..." Zoe scrunches her face. "I'm not sure he knows what he believes, anymore. They had him locked up on who knows what for a long time. He's only just starting to come back to himself."

Nod. “It doesn’t matter now. I can pray on my own. Thank you for having my company.”

Axum, it turns out, is two hours from Adua by bike.

They arrive at Axum in the evening and find lodging with a local family with eight children. The wife proudly tells them that her nephew has been hired as a digger by the Emporium of Bangkok Antiquities.

ahahahahahaha.

Oooh, what are they digging for?

They're digging for the tomb under the Obelisk!

Huh, Anemone didn't know there was a tomb! Does she know anything else about the obelisk?

They were the last monuments raised by the heathens before Christ came to Abyssinia!

Wow, they must be very old then! Ethiopia's been Christian for a very long time!

Thousands of years old, yep.

In the morning--

Don't suppose there is any way to... take a bath.

She is caked in SO much grime and sweat and would very much like to be less that.

The family is happy to draw up a bath for their guests.

Zoe is immensely grateful to their hosts for the bath. It feels SO good to be clean and not dying of arid heat.

Is this how snakes feel when they shed.

😳

Baths sound good.

Professor Hickering said that they should consult the Axum Ministry of Culture for more information on the obelisk, and then of course some of them should probably go to the dig site acting like they're archaeology students again. 

This time Oswald will NOT say words. He keeps not thinking and saying true things.

Anemone thinks that maybe Oswald should go to the ministry of culture with Sister Araari and Zoe. For reasons.

And then maybe they can look up books about it or something.

And not tell the people from the Emporium of Bankok Antiquities a bunch of true things.

Actually it's not entirely clear whether the Axum Ministry of Culture is a place where you talk to people or a place where you read books? But hopefully it requires less lying either way.

Araari is also planning on not saying things, on account of she has a fast talk skill of "no" and a moral opposition to lying, which seems counter to everyone else’s general strategy. Also she’s still kind of trying to learn more about the group and what they’re doing without giving too much away about herself. Reading books sounds good.

The mother helpfully informs them that in two days there will be a ritual at King Ezana's Stele! Tourists love that sort of thing.

They do love knowing about rituals! That is a thing that they love.

Anemone, Lev, and Mordred arrive at the Obelisk of Axum.