Valesteril county, Republic of Djabidjan
They advanced through the crowd which had gathered around the area, which was getting more and more dense as they walked. The crowd certainly looked rather diverse, with people of all ages and both genres (although there were a higher number of women, Cawil realized), and both families and solitary people. There were certainly a number of people who were likely just curious, as well as certain people who were members of the community but they were not too familiar with these lands (or at least gave such impression). But in both cases, they seemed hungry to see something that they could have only vaguely heard about it.
"It is right there", Patriarch Suleymaan told him, as they approached a house on one of the main hills of the village. He was easily recognized, Cawil understood, as people around the home started to push aside as they approached, while the sounds of them murmuring were increasing. As they arrived there was a younger man wearing similar clothing than Suleymaan's, only with frugal embroidery. The man respectfully bowed before them, after the Patriarch invited him to so, he softly knocked the door.
A woman, likely in her fifties, but who looked slightly older, or at least that was an accurate description of Cawil's impression, opened the door.
"Good evening, good woman", the Patriarch greeted her. "I introduce you to Father Cawil. While he's not a member of the community, but he wish to see your niece, as we talked before".
"Of course, I remember", the woman replied with a rather unfriendly but unthreatening and rather indifferent attitude.
"Nice to meet you", Cawil Magan replied. "Thank you for your welcoming".
They finally entered the room. The house was rather small, although not too much. There were some cracks on the halls and ceiling as the moved through the house. Still, Cawil had seen much worse houses in their travels through the country.
"Here she is", the young priest said.
Cawil saw a young woman sat on the bed. She was looking fixedly to the wall. As they were introduced, as if you be called so as she only looked at them without saying a word. She was repeatedly nodding as she was hearing.
The young priest, who seemed to have at least some knowledge of the family before the incidents, repeated the general situation of the case. Most of those details, Cawil knew them already. Others were not easy to believe, even consider seriously, even as his main task in the Church, Cawil had experienced quite weird things in the last two decades. The Falashites had gained a reputation of deranged or weird cult even by fellow Christians, still Cawil was curious enough about the case that he was willing to see the situation by himself. He has relatively open minded and he was glad that he found in the Patriarch as someone more reasonable, even intelligent, than he expected.
He feared that the community was taking advantage of a poor soul for their own ends. He was surprised that the woman did not seem to be affected to the symptoms which would be identified as a mental problem of any kind. While the woman seemed to be in her own thoughts, she was responsive and calm. She was actually so calm that she almost scared Cawil. She seemed to understand what happened and what was said around her, even if she did not seem to have any wish to communicate. Cawil was also surprised after seeing older recordings of the woman, some of them when she was a child or a teen, a two more recent ones. That seemed to contradict the existence of any kind of physical or behavior disorder that could explain the case, Cawil thought, even if he was not a trained psychologist.
It was not similar to those situations Cawil faced and experience in his role either. The conversation about the case with Patriarch Suleymaan for another several minutes. He heard and read many things about the community and the man himself before his travel, but Cawil felt his assumptions were not exactly right. It was said that the community was in disarray after the former late Patriarch had suddenly died, and there were many rumours about Suleymaan since he took over the leadership of the small Falashite Church. However, while there were many things he didn't understand about the community, he felt he acted as an experienced and patient spiritual leaders, and it did not seem that other members of the community feared him, or that he promoted eccentric or ignoble behavior between those close to him.
"This situation defies the senses, indeed", the Patriarch argued, "but so these days as well. After all...And in those days, the men will be tormented, wars and hunger willl afflict the men, and the dark blood of the righteous will cover the land".
Cawil was not sure what to say.
"Misunderstanding have separated us for many centuries, indeed", the Patriarch continued. "However, the main difference is that, while you have ignored us for long, we have continue to study carefully your literature and deeds, without devotion toward the error-prone way but with respect. It is only studying the errant path we can survive and continue through the just one".
"I guess that make sense", Cawil replied. "I have seen too many things to judge with severity our disagreement". He had not been completely sincere this time, although he realized why those verses felt convenient for his interlocutor.
But Suleymaan did not seem to have listened to him. "And the angel told him, the soul of the son will return and shatter the parents, and their sisters will be blindfolded by such light. And only then, the faces of the kings will be fill with a darkness never felt, and shame will be their dwelling, and they will have no fill their despair and disbelief", he added.
This time, Cawil felt something more ominous, as the Patriarch's face seemed to be covered with an uneasy joy, increasingly as he said those words.
"But maybe it is not the right time", Suleymaan said. "It is getting late and we should not disturb our hosts. If you do not mind to share it with myself tonight, there is a room upstair, even if only a modest but honourable lodging. It is quite dark outside and there are certain things I hope you can witness before you leave us".
"It will be a honour", Cawil replied, who was both surprised and curious about the offer.