Chapter 541

Chapter 541: Where the Soul Goes

In the morning, the sunlight shone into the valley, illuminating the central pool, clearly separating the line between shadow and sunlight to make the light even clearer.

There was still a smell of burning in the air, but a cool breeze blew in, and Jesse could now smell the pine trees gradually replacing the bloody scent from last night’s battle.

The ground had been mostly cleaned of dirt, and the harpy bodies outside had been removed. Apart from the two burned houses, Sun Rock Retreat seemed to have regained its calm.

The Tauren gathered in the central clearing, where the bodies of the Tauren Warrior who died in the battle by the river last night and a young Tauren had been wrapped in blankets embroidered with ancient Tauren symbols.

When the Tauren noticed Jesse and the others arriving, they all nodded politely and muttered unfamiliar words. Even though Mosa didn’t translate, Jesse knew that it must be a language of goodwill or gratitude.

Among these towering giants, Jesse and the others seemed small and fragile, yet the Tauren respectfully made way, guiding them to the center.

Just when Jesse thought the ceremony would take place there, several young and strong Tauren stepped forward, carrying the bodies of the fallen Tauren Warrior and young Tauren towards the bridge above the pool.

The residents of Sun Rock Retreat silently formed a line, moving in harmony. At that moment, the Tauren elder nodded towards Vereesa and gestured towards the young Tauren leading the way.

"I think he wants us to catch up," said Greed.

Vereesa looked at Jesse, then nodded and followed the steps of the Tauren in front. Jesse and Greed came behind Vereesa.

After a few people set off, Mosa and other residents followed behind.

The Tauren had long strides but walked slowly. It was easy to disrupt their own pace being among them. Not only Jesse, the dwarf, and the elf felt a bit uncomfortable, but the Tauren behind them took care of these newcomers who couldn’t keep up, patiently following.

As the Tauren walked, they chanted sentences with a strong rhythm and rhyme, resembling spells and poems.

Even though Jesse couldn’t understand the Tauren language, he could feel the beauty in their words, especially when spoken in the deep voices of the Tauren, it seemed very solemn and dignified.

No one cried or made any other sounds. Jesse didn’t feel sadness or despair, it was like a calm morning assembly, a usual farewell.

But for some reason, he felt moved by this calmness.

Greed and Vereesa listened attentively to these seemingly melody-less chants. Jesse noticed that Mosa was also singing along with them. However, Mosa seemed a bit more emotional, her voice carried a tinge of sorrow compared to the other Tauren.

The Tauren climbed up the mountain cliff on a well-made path, with three people following them all the way up to the cliff top, where they could overlook half of Stonetalon.

On the high platform, there were grain bags, fruits, ceremonial decorations like totem poles, hanging decorations made of feathers, animal bones, and rope, as well as small flags made of animal skins and tree branches that looked like kites.

Among these offerings and ceremonial items, wooden racks and dry firewood were prepared. The Tauren wrapped the body in a blanket and placed it on the rack. Only when standing close enough did they notice that the body had been carefully cleaned and groomed, with no dirt or blood on the exposed face and chest, making it look as if the person was sleeping.

The firewood was lit, and the elder stepped forward, holding a staff, and began praying softly.

A scent of Earthroot incense filled the air. Jesse, who often stayed with Ursula, easily recognized the smell. Perhaps for the Tauren, using Earthroot as fuel to cremate the deceased could help their souls return to the embrace of the earth.

The ceremony was long and solemn. The Tauren gazed at the smoke rising into the sky. In the distance, rolling valleys were covered with pine forests, with only the tall red mountain peaks protruding from the dense greenery, resembling thick, heavy beast claws.

After everything was done, the Tauren carried the collected ashes and each left the mountain cliff. Before descending, they spontaneously came to Jesse and the others, bowing and speaking to them. Even though Jesse had no idea what they were saying, he could feel the reserved warmth and gratitude from the group of giants.

Before long, there were only two guardian holy men left on the high platform, along with Jesse and his group.

Greed watched the Tauren guards sweeping away the scattered ashes and said, "This place reminds me of Kuzhaven."

"The sacred place of Dwarf Wildhammer," Jesse said.

"You still remember," Greed looked surprised at Jesse and said.

"Of course," Jesse said, "Do you think I forget everything when I’m drunk?"

Greed chuckled and said, "I believe our clan and the Tauren will make powerful allies. We live in the mountains, share similar beliefs and even have similar burial customs. Of course, they use fire, which is a bit different, but I can understand that."

"Tauren tame windriders and Kodo, while dwarfs tame gryphons and goats," Jesse added.

"Exactly," Greed nodded repeatedly, "Next time I return to Aerie Peak, I will definitely tell them this story in detail, informing them that on the other side of this world, there exists a group of beings so similar to us but towering nine feet tall. Of course, the story will include a human, an Elf Ranger, and even a Tauren shapeshifter."

After speaking, Greed patted Jesse’s back and said, "I’m heading back now, brother. Oh, and that bird leg is mine, I’m starving. Any objections?"

"No objections," Jesse said.

Vereesa glanced at him and said, "No."

Greed furrowed his brow, waved his hand and said, "I’ll leave you some."

Saying that, he walked down the hill.

Vereesa watched the dwarf’s figure until he vanished among the pine trees. Then she said, "Mosa said that the Tauren scatter ashes into the river. They believe a part of the body rises with the smoke to the sky, reuniting with the Sky Father, while the part sprinkled into the river will go to the Earthmother. This way, the spirit of the Tauren joins a grand journey, forever protecting the land and their descendants. Therefore, they don’t see death as a final farewell. If this is true, it sounds more romantic than entering an endless realm of the dead."

"Do the Quel’dorai also envy other people’s legends?" Jesse asked.

Vereesa glanced at Jesse and asked, "Why do you say that?"