Surface and Potential
While he was quite moved by the ideas of nature and balance, in other areas, such as wildness, protection, and restoration, not to mention these ideas, Zul'ra was far inferior to Hamuul Runetotem. So, after a brief exchange, he turned to Hamuul Runetotem for guidance, and the great Tauren readily shared his knowledge.
Hamuul Runetotem first recounted to Zul'ra his own and his race's experiences. The Tauren had learned the ways of the Druid from the Forest King long ago, but for unknown reasons, they were forced to abandon this tradition on their own. However, the Runetotem were different; they still remembered the way of nature.
For centuries, Runetotem has strived to rediscover the Druid tradition, Hamuul Runetotem was no exception. He meticulously organized the knowledge of his people, but always fell short. He had previously sought help from the Night Elves and Cenarius, but over the decades, he visited Ashenvale and Mount Hyjal countless times without finding his target. This was because the Druid were in slumber, and the Kaldorei were unwilling to see outsiders while guarding Nordrassil.
Around the time of the Third War, Hamuul Runetotem heard that the Orcs had landed on the coast and were helping the tribe of his friend Cairne Bloodhoof Bloodhoof. He offered to help them, and as a result, he joined the holy war against the Burning Legion at Mount Hyjal.
During the Battle of Mount Hyjal, Hamuul witnessed the fighting prowess of Archdruid Malfurion and approached him to plead his case. Malfurion, impressed by the Tauren's sincerity and potential, and considering the future, accepted them into the Cenarion Circle of Druids, thus re-establishing the Druid tradition in their hands.
As Hamuul Runetotem recounted his story, Zul'ra, drawing upon his own historical knowledge, recalled that while the Tauren themselves couldn't recall the details, he had learned about it in Zandalar. Zandalar Druid knowledge was acquired from the Yaungol, Yaungol were slaves of the Mogu. Due to the Mogu's oppression and their own savage nature, the Yawd abandoned the Druid path.
After the Mogu Empire was overthrown by the Pandaren, the descendants of the Yaungol scattered and migrated. Among them, the current Runetotem Tauren, such as Hamuul Runetotem, are one of the descendants of the Yaungol migrated westward. Zul'ra recounted this history to Hamuul Runetotem in its entirety. The Tauren elder was amazed by the ancient and profound knowledge of the Trolls, and then began to share his knowledge.
Although he had only recently returned to the path of the Druid, Hamuul Runetotem's decades of intensive study had allowed him to rapidly advance in the Druid path, even surpassing many current Night Elves Druid. In short, he was more than capable of teaching Zul'ra.
Just like Priest and Shaman, Druid also have their own set of ideas about the human body, nature, and the universe. They believe that the human soul has two sides: one is the conscious manifestation, and the other is the unconscious potential.
The conscious, manifest soul sustains human motivation, while the unconscious, latent spirit represents the essence of humanity. These two are independent yet intricately intertwined. When a person is active, their potential lies dormant, and when that potential awakens, the person must fall asleep. Druid use their latent spirit to enter the Emerald Dream.
The Emerald Dream is of paramount importance to Druid, a place where Druid heal the world's wounds and find peace. It is filled with the sweetness of dreams and the pristine beauty of nature. Druid can harness its power and even encounter demigods or Green Dragonflight there, conversing with them.
Although the Emerald Dream is incredibly peaceful and beautiful, it is also full of dangers. Because that world is connected to the dreams of countless lives, it is easy for people to lose themselves. Moreover, due to the special relationship between the manifest soul and the latent spirit, many Druid do not remember what they did in the dream after waking up, as if it were a dream.
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Zul'ra and Hamuul Runetotem talked for a whole day, from history to dreams, and from dreams to nature. Hamuul Runetotem did most of the talking while Zul'ra listened attentively, until it got dark and Tyrande Whisperwind's attendants came to invite the two to dinner.
Dinner was set at a long table in the woods, with several stone benches around it and several Night Elves sitting with them. When they saw Zul'ra and Hamuul Runetotem, they all stood up. Tyrande Whisperwind also stepped forward to greet them and introduced the people beside her to Zul'ra.
After some pleasantries, everyone took their seats. Zul'ra and Hamuul Runetotem sat together on a table already laden with food: grilled ribs, octopus, whole white salmon, rice cakes, spiced bread, plates of fruit, wine in glazed bottles, and Zul'ra even spotted some vegetables that smelled sour and seemed to have fermented.
"Tonight, under the light of Elune, Kaldorei, let us warmly welcome the visiting King of the Amani, Zul'ra Jin! Now, eat to your heart's content!" Tyrande Whisperwind, dressed in a long white robe, her slender yet powerful blue arms exposed, held up a blue glazed ceramic cup in her hands, first welcoming Zul'ra, and then ordering the banquet to begin.
The Night Elves ' meals were very simple. There were no pre-meal prayers, no conversations or dancing during the meal. After Tyrande Whisperwind's brief opening remarks, everyone began to eat heartily, including Hamuul Runetotem. Seeing this, Zul'ra also stepped forward to eat without ceremony, first tasting the fermented vegetables, nodding slightly before moving on to the other dishes.
The food was plentiful and the portions were especially large. Both the Night Elves and Hamuul Runetotem ate very roughly. Zul'ra didn't care about appearances and grabbed rice cakes and spiced bread as his staple food. Then he tried some meat and vegetables. He skipped the fruits and vegetables, as he had eaten enough on the way here.
"Zul'ra, after you finish eating, you need to say something to express your gratitude; it's a matter of etiquette." Hamuul Runetotem quietly leaned close to Zul'ra and reminded her when they were almost finished eating. Upon hearing this, Zul'ra reached out and grabbed her glazed ceramic cup, then stood up after everyone had put down their food, drawing their attention.
"First, I want to thank the delicious food before me, for it has comforted my spirit. Second, I want to thank Lady Tyrande Whisperwind and all the others for their hospitality. Third, I want to thank all the Kaldorei and Mount Hyjal allies for their efforts, for it is through their struggle that we can feast tonight. To Elune, to the Kaldorei." Zul'ra raised the ceramic cup filled with wine in her hand, delivered her speech, and then drank it all in one gulp.
"To Elune, to the Kaldorei." In response to Zul'ra's speech, the Kaldorei rose to raise their glasses, including Tyrande Whisperwind and Hamuul Runetotem, both of whom wore smiles. After Zul'ra's speech, Tyrande Whisperwind also stood up to give her own speech and conclude the banquet. Everyone began to leave their seats, and the leftover food on the tables was cleaned up by others.
"Excellent." As Hamuul Runetotem and Zul'ra left the table, Zul'ra whispered to Zul'ra, who had just drunk a glass of wine and smiled at him with a hint of drunkenness. Just as she was about to speak, Tyrande Whisperwind's voice came from behind her.
"Hamuul Runetotem, may I speak with Zul'ra Jin alone for a moment?" Tyrande Whisperwind asked with a smile, catching up with the tall Trolls who had left with the Tauren.
"Of course, of course, no problem, ma'am. I'm going to bed now." Hamuul Runetotem nudged Zul'ra with his elbow, gave her a wink, and turned to leave. Zul'ra blinked, remaining where she was, watching Tyrande Whisperwind, whose blue eyes shone brightly in the night, walk up to her in white, and felt a strange sense of envy welling up inside her.