The mirror: Kevali

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The Kevali inhabit vast cavern systems beneath the surface of their hostile planet. The twin suns constantly boring down on the surface have created a harsh desert environment. The days are long, the nights longer (the normal day lasts 36 hours). The intense heat of daytime and the bitter freezing cold of evening drove the Kevali underground centuries ago.

Phosphorescent algae provides an ambient glow, while oil lamps set into carved niches in the walls provide most of the dim light.

The capital city of Andhakara'a is built around an inky black subterranean river, the water is mostly drinkable...

The air is stale, it's crowded and the air is filled with the sound of tools and working.
It never seems to stop.

Map

Kaliyani mumbled and stirred, waking up as Christine tried to pick her up. "Ma h'da?" She spoke in her native tongue, groggy and disoriented.

Jarral spoke softly back to her in Kevali and she nodded.

"Aam Ishvara." Kaliyani murmured, letting Christine help her into bed and curling up, falling back to sleep quickly.

Jarral frowned, shaking his head at her words.

Christine got her settled and covered before sitting again. "Do I dare ask what she said?" She asked with a chuckle

Jarral shook his head. "She simply asked what was happening, I told her to go back to sleep." He looked glum. "I... am not certain it is appropriate to continue to be called Ishvara when Fate has abandoned us." He admitted fretfully.

"You are still their leader, even without Fate." Christine said with a frown, looking away then sighing "Unless you really don't want to?"

Jarral didn't look convinced, he looked worried. "How can I lead? I am not stupid Christine, I am well aware I am only a child. Were it not for my father's title I would have been carting rocks and goods just like all the others my age. Without Fate to guide me, how am I supposed to have any sort of authority? " He shook his head and looked up at the ceiling ruefully. "We have lost our homeworlds, our families, all that we have ever known. The people need someone to unite them, someone who knows what they are doing not... not some lost, sick child who has no idea where to even start."

"You will just be more like other leaders, you will have to study and make your own choices until and unless Fate returns to you." Christine said

Jarral frowned. He seemed very very unsure about all this. He was sure he wasn't at all ready for this level of responsibility. Leading the people while they were relatively safe and he had the guidance of a god was one thing, leading them through the genocide of their people by the very god they'd come to trust, that was quite another.
"I do not know where to start." He spoke softly, his voice hollow.

"Well, you have friends and councilors to help you. It likely will not be easy, especially at first, but the best things do come with perseverance. "

"First we need to find everyone we can..." Jarral murmured. "Get them safe." beyond that though? not a clue. He looked so completely lost and overwhelmed.

Christine nodded and smiled at him. "Yes, that is already being worked on. It will take time but you will learn."

"Do you really think they would follow me still?" He asked

"Yes, especially if you still allow those who remain of the Council to help you." Christine said softly. "Even if they follow only from habit. Having you still be their leader is what they know, and they will want something familiar to hold to."

"I am not so sure. It has been only a matter of days since I took power and now there are who knows how many thousands, if not millions dead. What... what if they blame me?" He kept his head lowered, hands clasped.

"If they blame you then they are fools. Fate did this, all of this." Christine said and shook her head. "She brought us so we could free her."

Jarral nodded "but I was her prophet... her vessel. I... was her conduit into this realm."

Christine nodded and frowned a little bit. "I know, but that is the only way I can see that makes sense given what has happened. "

Jarral shook his head. "I do not know. I do not like this feeling."

Christine looked at him and patted his shoulder. She didn't like that he felt bad, but didn't know what to do about it.

"What do we do while we wait for your companions?" He asked Christine suddenly.

Christine frowned a little then shrugged "Rest, study if you want, we don't really have anything planned." She said

Jarral's frown deepened. "I feel like we should be doing something, not sitting and waiting. But... I do not know where to begin. What did your companions tell you?"

"I did not get to talk to them directly, I read a message they sent out to all ports and one sent to me, through my people when I contacted them for a ride." Christine said then frowned a little "Maybe you can read about how other people rule their people to get ideas from that?" Of course it would have to be translated, unless she read them aloud or something. Hm.