The [Singer] noticed none of that. She just sang the song, as people clustered around the mess hall.

Wherever her voice reached, they had felt it.

A moment of sunshine. A breeze that lifted the spirits and carried away their exhaustion.

The weary Duchess Grishen, trudging back up the hill and snapping at her retainer’s attempts to carry her, heard. She blinked, and her eyes widened as she felt the effects of the [Song of Rejuvenation] on her. She picked up her pace.

“That fool!”

Cara had finished the song that came from Ireland and was smiling at Violetta. The room was murmuring.

“What a beautiful song. I feel refreshed. Was that your doing, Miss Cara?”

Risel looked around. She had heard from her room; the entire small keep had. The others were murmuring, smiling. Refreshed from both the Skill and the memory Cara had called.

“What? Oh—yes. I’m sorry if I interrupted anyone.”

Cara was embarrassed; she hadn’t meant to cause a huge scene this time. It had just been for Violetta.

But the song…she saw Sasi and Culin staring at her longingly.

“The sun.”

Seraphel sighed. But her attention was on Cara.

“I had no notion you had a Skill like that for a song, Miss Cara. I was under the impression you were low-level.”

The [Singer] shrugged.

“I was. But I leveled up recently and—”

“You.”

A withered, but iron, hand grabbed her. Cara jumped and saw an old lady, panting as she pulled Cara around. Duchess Grishen stared at Cara, eyes wide with fury.

“You have a Skill?”

“I—I—yes. It’s called [Song of Rejuvenation] and—”

The [Duchess] cursed. She grabbed Cara; she was insanely strong. Too strong for a woman her age and build! Stronger than most men! Cara instinctively fought.

“What? What? I’m sorry, but—”

“You idiot! If you had a Skill like that—come with me! Now!”

“Duchess, Miss Cara’s song was refreshing, not an affront—”

Seraphel began, but the Duchess ignored her. She dragged Cara towards the doors.

“What? Go where?”

The old woman whirled. She looked at Cara. And it wasn’t rage Cara saw. It was desperation. The Duchess practically threw Cara towards the keep’s doors.

“You have a Skill that can change this battle. Sing, you idiot! Sing!”

Cara looked at her. But it was just a—she turned at the same time as the Duchess. A sound ran across the embattled town, as unique as Cara’s song had been in the monotony of sound.

Crack. Then an explosion of wood. A Draugr punched through the front gates as the reinforced wood gave out under the battering at last. The defenders surged forwards, screaming for the barricades to be pushed to cover the breach.

Cara saw a huge [Blacksmith] with a hammer confronting the Draug. She ran as Violetta cried out.

——