Conviction

Venidith tapped my shoulder gently, her voice a hushed whisper, "Hey, do you think they would accept Ayesha?"

Stellar stood at the forefront, addressing the gathered crowd. His words aimed at calming their fears, but the tension in the air remained palpable. These villagers had suffered because of Ayesha, and convincing them wouldn't be easy.

I replied in a hushed tone, "I think so. I've had some practice with public speaking back in high school. It'll come down to my charisma at this point. How about you? Can you do it?"

A mischievous smirk danced across Venidith's lips as her body shifted back to her original form, radiating a captivating allure. "Speaking to the public isn't really my thing. I usually rely on brute force."

Brute force wouldn't work here. It would only breed more distrust and betrayal, something I knew all too well from my past experiences. I sighed and watched an ant carrying a small piece of meat, its tiny determination oddly calming.