I have never had one, though I called and turned to mine. The [Actress] stood with no script, no vision, and no certainty. So she looked at Dalius and wondered one thing.

Could she pretend? Could she play that part well enough to fool them both? She did not know what it looked like. She had never experienced it. But…

Did she want to believe in it? Cara thought of Culin. Of Seraphel, Lord Lantal, Lady Risel. Sasi.

“If there is any justice in this world, there should be miracles.”

Ser Dalius stopped struggling as the young woman walked backwards. She stood among the graves, poised. As if she were on stage before an audience of countless thousands. And she was.

The dead of Afiele lay resting. Sidheag looked around. And then at Dalius. A grave marked in golden lettering flashed. If the dead could listen—the [Singer] inhaled.

Then listen to this.

“Ladies and gentlemen. This is my first song to you, and my last. I have sung before. I wasn’t strong enough to stop the undead. But it helped a friend. It made children laugh. I—don’t know if a song can save anyone. But people surely can. If only they choose to. I call them. On you, Dalius. And on you all.”

She spun. Sidheag shouted into the empty tomb. The [Knight] heard the fury in her voice.

“Afiele! You were supposed to protect your home! Instead you destroyed it! Rise! You should have turned and fought! Do you need a song? Fine then. I’ll sing until Afiele’s children remember their oaths!

Even if only one man will! One [Knight] to champion the dead of millenia! For he did not forsake his vows while the rest of you did! Nor will he now.”

She turned to him. The [Knight] looked up at her, drinking in her words. He wanted to believe in her.

She—him. Was it a lie or truth?

If she believed hard enough…

The [Singer] inhaled. She sang, her voice clear and loud. Dalius tried to rise. He saw her, the living, breathing figure in front of him. Her voice was alone in the darkness.

Weight of the World from Nier Automata.

The dead didn’t move. Sidheag pleaded with them, looking into Dalius’ eyes. His gaze burned.

She sang with fire, anger for injustice. The [Singer] saw the [Knight] attempting to stand. He was screaming, the bindings holding him growing brighter as he fought the magic. She sang over it.

She closed her eyes. Sidheag saw Dalius failing. The song—was it just a song? Her voice faltered. She looked at her friend. He needed more than just music. She hesitated. There was a terrible fear in his eyes.

If I can’t answer you—what then? What then?

Cara looked around. She took a breath—