Cara reached out and patted Culin on the shoulder. This was not the time or place for the full debate on this. But because she believed every word she said—he looked at her, and some of his anger and hurt abated. He sniffed.

“Really?”

“Yup. And—hey. Juggling isn’t the best Skill. How about handstands? Or…”

Cara regarded Sasi and realized she was going to be better at all the physical tricks, so she fell back to the thing that she was good at in this world thanks to levels.

“How about I sing for you? I’m sure you’d like that. I’ll bet you haven’t ever heard a song as good as mine.”

The brother and sister peered at her. And Cara’s challenge put their backs up. Culin folded his arms.

“You can’t sing better than the [Bards] in the capital. You’re not even from Noelictus. Your skin is too dark!”

The other town children nodded, without ever having heard said [Bards]. Cara’s lips twitched. She had never been told her skin was too dark before.

“Well…how about you listen and see? I admit, I may not have been as impressive as the capital’s performers—but give me one last try.”

“Okay. But if you’re bad, Duchess Grishen and the Princess might put you to death! Duchess Grishen will.”

Culin warned Cara seriously. The young woman narrowed her eyes.

“She sounds like a lovely woman.”

“She’s horrible. What are you going to sing?”

Cara had no idea. But she was determined now. Just looking at these poor kids—she wanted to do for them what she had done for Violetta. And music…she had music she was sure they had never heard before.

But what song? And…could she risk it? Cara touched at her iPhone, thinking.

Yes. It wasn’t smart. But it was necessary. She didn’t have the chops to a cappella a song, anyways. She might be in trouble once the dying battery ran out.

Don’t think about that. Live in the moment. Here’s your audience. Blow them away.

Cara considered the children and the song popped into her head. Children? Check. Depressed? Check.

And…she could add more than just a vocal component.

Sasi and Culin were waiting as the strange young woman pulled the artifact out of her pocket. They craned their necks as it lit up, and she touched at it. Then…she turned.

“Ready? One, two, three—let’s start the music!”

And then there was electronic music. A synth. Music that—Sasi’s eyes widened, and Culin stuck his thumb into his mouth. They gaped at the place it was coming from. But—then Cara began singing. She was lucky she had the instrumental version for karaoke.

Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake