"Xuefeng! Yiren! You're finally back!"
The Queen's voice rang out across the ancient stone chamber just as Xuefeng stepped down from the altar, still grumbling about his unexpected race change. She appeared at the edge of the hall, breathless from haste, eyes lit with relief and anticipation.
"I heard the commotion and knew it had to be you two. So… the transformation worked," she said brightly, walking straight up to them and reaching for Xuefeng's hair with a mix of awe and admiration. Her fingers glided through the silken white strands. "How do you feel?"
Xuefeng stared at her, bewildered. "What do I feel? I turned into a half-elf! Look at me!"
He gestured at his reflection in a lingering water screen nearby, his face still partially slack with disbelief. "Wait… you knew?"
The Queen blinked, clearly not understanding his tone.
