Silencing Rebels

I watched as the crowd surrounded me, their gazes a mix of curiosity, awe, and unease. It wasn't surprising—many of them were new to the empire, or perhaps they had never seen me in person before. And now, I was no longer entirely human.

"Is this our empress?" someone whispered nearby.

"Yeah, she looks different, but she's still the same person," another replied confidently.

"So, our demon empress is… an actual demon?"

"No, you fool. She's like us—she came from the same world. But look at her! She actually turned into a demon. I wonder what happened, or how she did it."

"You're right. I want to be like her, too. Look at those wings! I bet I could fly across the world with those. Hahaha!"

The whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd, but one thing was clear—despite their initial discomfort, the people still supported me. Those who seemed wary were quickly reassured by others who knew me better.