Sin’dorei Jewel

"What… what have I become?"

Feeling the changes in her body, Raina was overwhelmed by an indescribable fear.

How could this happen?

She lowered her head and saw the black spikes on her hands, as though she were looking at the most terrifying thing in the world.

"My body is covered in disgusting black spikes. It feels like there are countless little stones inside me. With every breath, every rush of blood, every heartbeat, they keep pressing against me, cutting into my body, my flesh."

She muttered to herself, her face filled with despair.

"My grandmother said I would become an angel, not a monster covered in spikes!"

She could not help wanting to tear out those hateful black spikes, but she quickly realized that was impossible.

The black spikes had grown inside her body and fused with her, like teeth and nails, even more deeply than that. They were connected to her bones. There was no way to pull them out.

Hiss, it hurts so much!

She saw the black spikes pierce her skin, drawing blood.

"It’s still red? It didn’t turn black? I’m really lucky!"

She could not help laughing, though her laughter was utterly miserable.

What exactly had I become?

"Just as your grandmother said, you became an angel, Raina."

Old Wang’s voice suddenly rang out, pulling Raina back to reality. "You are an angel. There is no doubt about it."

Skye stared wide-eyed at Old Wang, thinking, So you’re actually this good at comforting girls. You can lie with your eyes wide open.

Still, this sister was truly pitiful. How had she ended up like this?

Raina froze, then felt an unprecedented sense of grievance well up inside her.

An angel?

I look like this, and you still call me an angel?

Are you mocking me?

Can all of you leave and let me be alone for a while?

No!

Can’t you just kill me and let me die?

"I have a hundred ways to make you look normal again. I can even give you a peerless beauty unlike any other in the world. If you are willing, I can even strip away your current body and give you another one. You can become whatever you want." Old Wang spoke calmly.

Boom!

It was as though lightning had struck her. Raina stared blankly at Old Wang. "Is that true? Can you really, really free me from this devilish body and let me escape this cruel fate?"

"Of course. It’s just changing bodies. That isn’t difficult."

Old Wang said calmly, "But think it through. I can make you look like anything you want, but there is one thing I cannot make you become: what you are now—an angel."

Raina was delighted and nearly began dancing with joy. She could not help wanting to say, "I’m willing to pay any price to change all this," but then she heard Old Wang’s last sentence.

An angel?

Are you still mocking me?

"I’m not mocking you, Raina."

Old Wang smiled. "Believe me, a change in appearance is nothing. Where there is gain, there is loss. Some people have lost far more precious things than you have… everyone here can prove that. And haven’t you noticed? The way they look at you is perfectly normal. They do not think you are a monster."

Was that so?

Only then did Raina look at the others.

For some reason, she suddenly possessed a strange ability. She could easily see details that ordinary people could not, though it was difficult to describe. It was something like a beast’s instinct.

She looked at Skye first. There was no mockery in her eyes, only pity… Only monsters needed pity. What kind of angel am I?

She fell into even deeper despair, then saw Carl. There was not even pity in her eyes, only curiosity, as though she were looking at a strange-looking white mouse.

Raina was utterly despondent, then she saw Jia Ying.

This time, she saw neither pity nor curiosity. She saw only concern.

She was actually concerned about me?

And she seemed to think my appearance was normal?

How was that possible?

A trace of hope suddenly appeared in Raina’s heart.

She immediately looked at the other elders and found that their attitudes were the same as Jia Ying’s.

Why was that?

They did not think I was a monster?

"When Kree genes fused with human genes, combined with the chemical reaction caused by Terrigen Mist, every person’s genes changed differently. From a certain perspective, every Inhuman is an entirely new species."

Old Wang said, "That is undoubtedly fortunate, but every Inhuman’s genes have flaws. Changes in appearance are actually the most ordinary kind. Some people changed even more drastically than you did… for example, Gordon. He lost his eyes, and he certainly does not look any better than you."

Raina could not help nodding.

Blind Monk had not only lost his eyes; the area where they should have been looked like a massive scar. It was terrifying.

But how could that compare to me?

I lost more!

Old Wang smiled. "There must have been all kinds of transformations throughout Afterlife’s history. That is why Auntie and the elders have no prejudice against you, because any transformation is normal."

Jia Ying hurriedly nodded. "Three hundred years ago, someone was covered in scales. Five hundred years ago, someone’s entire body turned to stone. Nine thousand years ago, there was even someone whose head looked like an octopus… He was the first Inhuman, the born leader of all Inhumans, Hive."

Was that so?

Raina could not help imagining the scenes in her mind.

Those things Jia Ying described seemed even more terrifying than her own condition?

"Someone even turned into a large dog, the kind that could never change back," Old Wang added.

A large dog?

Not just Raina—everyone else’s expressions changed.

That kind of transformation…

Really was unprecedented.

Would there be reproductive isolation?

Could he be lying?

"It is called Tetanus. It’s on the moon. You’ll meet him someday," Old Wang said with a smile.

Raina automatically imagined herself turning into a dog and could not help laughing.

That was actually…

Kind of fun!

"Raina, what is an angel?" Old Wang suddenly asked.

What was an angel?

Raina paused. "The most beautiful creature in the world?"

"Angels are not Victoria’s Secret Angels, Raina."

Old Wang shook his head. "Angels are guardians, and prophets sent to proclaim the truth."

Everyone was stunned.

Prophets?

What did that mean?

Jia Ying’s heart stirred.

Raina’s transformation had consumed half an Obelisk, just like her own.

Such immense potential could not possibly manifest as nothing more than a change in appearance. That was the worst sort of ability, not even worth one percent of an Obelisk.

Could it be that Raina’s true ability was not this?

"You are a prophet, the one and only prophet among Inhumans."

Old Wang said, "You can foresee the future."

Raina suddenly raised her head.

Jia Ying and all the elders looked at Raina at the same time, their faces full of disbelief.

Foresee the future?

There was actually such a powerful ability?

That ability was definitely worth an entire Obelisk!

"It is not as powerful as you think. It only works to a certain degree, but it is enough to make Raina the greatest prophet in Afterlife’s history. She is Afterlife’s guide. She will lead the Inhumans toward glory."

Old Wang spouted nonsense with ease, fully displaying his talent as a charlatan. His eyes were full of encouragement as he looked at Raina. "Raina, that is what an angel truly is. It is also your mission."

Raina was completely stunned.

I can foresee the future?

Was Grandma right? Am I really an angel?

Master Wang, you are not lying to me, are you?

"I never lie, Raina."

Old Wang looked completely sincere. "What you need to do now is adapt to your identity and appearance… Oh, right. This is for you."

Old Wang took out an egg-sized orange-red jewel from his pocket. It was inlaid with exquisite golden patterns, and anyone who saw it would be drawn to it at once.

Raina could not help taking it.

"What is this?" She turned it over and over, but found nothing unusual.

It looked like an ordinary jewel?

"The Sin’dorei Jewel. It can give you another appearance. You only need to focus your mind on it."

Old Wang blinked. "Want to try?"

Raina immediately did as he said.

The next moment, she saw everyone’s expressions change. Their gazes seemed to be…

Envy?

So what did I become?

She could not help lowering her head, then froze.

Her figure was tall and slender, her proportions perfect, with curves where there should be curves and dips where there should be dips.

If her former figure could only be rated a five, then this body was absolutely a ten. It was utterly perfect. There would never be another like it in the world.

Then, what about my face?

Old Wang snapped his fingers and manipulated the water into a mirror.

Raina saw her entire body.

A crimson outfit tightly wrapped around her body. It was slightly revealing, perfectly displaying her figure, making even her jealous of herself.

Her ears had become pointed, like those of the elves in legends. No matter how she looked at them, they were incredibly sexy.

Most importantly, her face.

There were no black spikes, no black sockets around her eyes, and she was even more beautiful than before.

She could not help looking at Jia Ying.

Jia Ying was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Anyone who saw her would be jealous.

But now, she realized that her own beauty was not inferior to Jia Ying’s in the slightest. She was like a work of art.

Th-this kind of treasure must be very expensive, right?

"Not expensive. Just ten million dollars." Old Wang shrugged.

It was an ordinary blue-grade item. It only took one milligram of Azeroth Blood to exchange for it, so it really was nothing.

Raina did not hear the number at all.

She was immersed in fascination with her perfect figure and perfect appearance, tightly clutching the Sin’dorei Jewel in her right hand, afraid that someone might snatch it away.

Although the jewel had not truly changed her appearance, wasn’t it enough as long as she looked beautiful?

Now, I am a real angel!

Old Wang’s smile suddenly froze.

Without even turning around, he could sense Skye’s gaze, as though she were saying, Why didn’t you give such a good thing to me?

At the same time, there was Jia Ying’s gaze.

Though she was already beautiful, wouldn’t it be nice to change her appearance and figure once in a while?

Little Wang, Little Wang, that was not very kind of you!

What made Old Wang even more depressed was that the two old ladies beside him could not resist the temptation either.

Well, they were women after all.

But that old gentleman, could you stop looking at me like that? People will misunderstand!

Forget it, it was only ten million dollars each… Old Wang raised his hand and exchanged one for everyone, including Carl. "The Sin’dorei Jewel will not change your gender. Men who use it will become male Blood Elves."

Carl’s eyes lit up.

Female Blood Elves were so beautiful. Male ones must be very handsome, right?

One old gentleman’s face darkened.

Then it is useless to me…

"Alright, everyone. We can begin with the next one." Old Wang smiled.

Only then did the group of Blood Elves come back to their senses.

Andrew, who had long been unable to wait, straightened his suit and walked into the transformation chamber.

Thanks to "拾遗丶那份噯" for the 1,000 reward, and thanks to "Speeding Guoba" for the 700 reward.