According to legend, the Tauren are a race characterized by their peaceful and gentle nature.
Every member of this tribe possesses a mild temperament.
They are also remarkably hospitable; amidst the many savage and bloodthirsty half-orc tribes on the continent of Valoran, the peace-loving Tauren undoubtedly stand out as an anomaly.
The Tauren named Desair before us is a prominent representative of this gentle race. When he speaks in a calm tone, akin to that of a wise elder, there seems to be an inherent power within his soothing voice that can instill tranquility in others, compelling them to find their composure.
"We appear to be in trouble," the silver-haired woman replied to Desair's inquiry as she stood before the towering tent. "Mr. Desair, for some unknown reason, upon waking this morning, the four of us discovered that our abilities had diminished to varying extents. Might you know the cause of this?"
"Diminished abilities?" Riven's response surprised the gentle Tauren. "How could such a thing occur? Did you perhaps touch something you ought not to have on your way here, resulting in a curse?"
With a wry smile, Riven replied helplessly, "That was my initial thought as well. The only conceivable explanation for a high-tier practitioner to experience such a decline in strength without their awareness would be a curse cast by an evil sorcerer. However, during our journey here, we encountered no sorcerers, nor even anyone exhibiting peculiar behavior. As for touching something forbidden… I have no recollection of such an event. This curse truly is bewildering."
Just as Riven finished speaking, Xiao Mu Yu interjected coldly, "No… Riven, your reasoning is flawed."
Narrowing his eyes as he surveyed the serene Tauren settlement, he observed the rows of tents constructed from animal hides and massive logs stretching into the distance, bathed in the dim morning light before the dawn had fully dissipated.
Xiao Mu Yu stated coolly, "First and foremost, sorcerers would never emblazon the word 'sorcerer' upon their own faces. Therefore, if an individual's strength is comparable to yours, as long as they deliberately conceal their capabilities and refrain from revealing their class, you would be unable to discern their true nature merely by their appearance."
"Moreover, while we can set aside the vast, desolate desert we traversed, during our time aboard the magical train, there was a constant flow of people. It is entirely plausible that among the seemingly ordinary crowd, there lurked an evil sorcerer, and we… may have unwittingly fallen victim to a curse."
At this juncture, Xiao Mu Yu turned to the towering Tauren and inquired, "Mr. Desair, do you have any shamans or mages proficient in curses within your tribe? I wish to consult them regarding what seems to be a curse cast upon us without our knowledge."
"Proficient in curses?" Desair pondered for a moment before responding, "Our tribe seldom interacts with the outside world, so we have neither sorcerers skilled in curses nor mages who have studied arcane spells. However… our oldest elder, Mother Kolzong, has lived for an extensive period, experiencing many events. She is undoubtedly the wisest elder in our tribe."
"I believe she might understand the nature of your predicament—if there is indeed a Tauren who can grasp the truth of this situation, it would surely be Mother Kolzong."
"Then I kindly ask you to introduce us," Xiao Mu Yu said with a slight bow.
"Ah… it would be my honor," Desair replied with a smile and a nod.
…
They arrived at a tall tent situated atop a modest hill at the back of the tribe, the only structure present on the entire hillside.
The other tents of the tribe were constructed below the hill, with a winding path extending from the cluster of tents toward this location.
The unique topography underscored the elevated status of the tent's owner within the tribe.
Consistent with Tauren tradition, the tent was built from the resilient hides of beasts and massive logs from the forest.
Given that most Taurens stand over two meters tall, this enormous tent, like others of its kind, reached nearly ten meters in height, appearing as a colossal edifice to the human companions of Xiao Mu Yu.
"Wow! Big brother, look at that statue! Its shape is so peculiar, it resembles… it looks like a large turtle lying down!" The little girl exclaimed, her excitement evident as she pointed at a strangely shaped statue beside the tent.
"Hmph! That's no turtle; it's clearly a large tiger!" Teemo retorted disdainfully, crossing his arms to express his contempt for the little girl who had been challenging him throughout their journey. "A turtle, indeed… you're just a little girl who hasn't grown up yet, unable to even distinguish between a tiger and a turtle."
"Nonsense! You're the one talking nonsense, little kitty! That's obviously a large turtle lying down! How could it possibly resemble a tiger? I've seen tigers before; there's no tiger that looks like that! You're so silly, little kitty!" The little girl stuck her tongue out at Captain Teemo while still clutching Xiao Mu Yu's arm.
"You…" Teemo, taken aback by the little girl's scorn, felt a surge of indignation. However, after spending time with her, the astute Teemo had learned one thing:
Continuing this endless debate with the little girl would yield no resolution, regardless of how many days they argued. Only the truth could demonstrate Teemo's wisdom.
Thus, he turned to Desair, seeking the definitive answer to prove the little girl's foolishness and his own brilliance. "Mr. Desair, please enlighten this foolish little girl about what animal that statue truly represents. We must make her understand how foolish it is to oppose the great and wise Captain Teemo!"
"Yes, yes! Uncle Desair, please tell us what that statue is! It must be a large turtle, right? We need to use the undeniable truth to show the little kitty that the truths of the world cannot be altered by mere cuteness," Annie chimed in, casting a smug glance at the self-satisfied Teemo.
"Hmm? Cuteness? Little girl, I cannot pretend I did not hear that," Teemo exclaimed, hopping with indignation, his chubby little body bouncing as he questioned, "Who are you calling cute?"
"Hmph… I'll say it about whoever speaks to me," Annie rolled her eyes adorably, completely ignoring Teemo's fury.
"Uh…" Desair glanced awkwardly at the two squabbling children before carefully choosing his words, then slowly replied, "That statue is actually… um, it is the totem of our ancestors. In other words… well, it is actually a reclining Tauren, not a large turtle or a tiger."
Having spoken, Desair glanced at the two stunned children, concerned that his tone had been too harsh and might have disheartened these innocent youngsters. He quickly added, "Of course, this totem is quite ancient, so its craftsmanship is somewhat crude. Many of the tribe's children might not recognize it, so it's entirely normal for you to have misidentified it."
The little girl's face flushed.
She buried her head deeply in Xiao Mu Yu's arm, speechless.
Meanwhile, Teemo, who had confidently asserted that it was a large tiger, stood frozen for a moment, his mouth agape in a comical expression, unable to utter a word.
"Pfft… hahahaha…" Watching the two children, who appeared utterly defeated, Riven, carrying her enormous emerald-green sword, doubled over in laughter, completely losing her composure.
The Tauren, walking ahead, scratched his head, unsure of how to console the two little ones.
At that moment, they arrived at the towering tent, but before Desair could formulate a comforting approach for the two children, a frail voice emerged from within the somewhat worn tent, as if sensing their footsteps. "Is… that you, Desair? And… are there… guests?"
Upon hearing the voice, Desair promptly signaled for the others to halt, respectfully bowing before the wooden door of the tent, speaking with reverence, "Good morning, Mother Kolzong. I apologize for disturbing your rest."
"No… cough, cough… it's no trouble. As one ages, the days of peaceful sleep become increasingly rare. Recently, I have been immersed in the ocean of earth elements during the nights, and it has been quite some time since I enjoyed a restful slumber. Cough, cough… but enough about that. You… cough, cough… you've brought our guests here. Has something occurred?"
The elderly voice emanating from the tent seemed somewhat weak, often pausing to catch its breath and punctuated by painful coughs, suggesting that its owner was nearing the end of their days.
However, Desair addressed this voice with utmost respect, maintaining a humble demeanor as he bowed his massive head before the tent. "Our guests seem to have been cursed by an unknown individual or entity, but no one in the tribe truly understands curses or can assist our guests. Therefore, I brought them to trouble you, Mother Kolzong, believing that you would undoubtedly be able to resolve this issue."