After a couple of days of healing and recuperation, and of constantly contemplating the situation I was currently in, I went up to Roksuma and asked him if it was ok if I traveled with them, as far West as they were going to travel. Roksuma wholeheartedly agreed.

Warrior Chief Roksuma was a kind man, the whole time I spent recuperating with his people no one ever made me feel uncomfortable, on the contrary, there were times when felt like I was part of their tribe.

I had considered the consequences of what I had done back in my first campground. When Roksuma had given me the two options, in my mind I had already decided upon this decision. I just didn’t want to come off as too eager. At the moment I wasn’t safe in any populated area, but if I stayed in the wilderness for a while chances are after some time this will all blow over.

I didn’t know what it was, but as of late my mind and thinking process felt a lot more clear, as if there was a paved road ahead of me. I also found myself being much more decisive and assertive in my decision-making process. Many times in the past I had missed big opportunities because of my indecisiveness and cowardice. But now It felt as if fear was gone.

Fear was gone but common sense wasn’t I had committed a very serious offense against three Expert Clans of Volunterra, and after remembering their features and combat abilities I concluded there was a high chance they were Evolved Clans.

The Evolved or Evolved Humans, were groups of people who strived to preserve and pass on to their offspring and bloodlines, genetic changes or ‘’improvements” to the common mortal Human’s body, physiology, abilities, and traits.

They didn’t have to be specifically Humans this practice was seen in many Races but here in Volunterra, Humans were the ones who practiced this the most.

Regular Expert Clans were already troublesome enough, but Evolved Clans were on another level. The formation of Clans was a common practice that has deep and extensive roots in Volunterra and even Potestera as a whole. There were extant Clans whose history spanned the entirety of Volunterras’ existence and even all the way back since before its foundation.

All types of clans existed in Volunterra, a Clan by definition used bloodline or familial ties to cement its foundation, but in a world full of Experts, a Clan needed more than family unity or good finances because of a family business.

To maintain or exercise whatever power they held in society, they needed another form of power to help their Clan grow and prosper. Most clans tied their family inheritance or culture to some sort of powerful art, practice, or craft. Ancestral Martial Clans, specific weapon Master Clans, Weaponsmithing Clans, Mystic, and Powerful Art Clans the list was endless.

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The source of Power for each respective Clan was always a closely guarded secret never to be dispersed outside of the Clan members. The punishment for this offense often being death.

But there were some clans that took advantage of humanity’s long extensive history and obsession with ancestry and bloodline. What better way to protect the Clans’ source of power than by tying it to their own bloodline.

The concept of Evolved Combat Class beings exists outside Clan societal structures, but it was the Clans that pushed that concept to the limit. In older times Clans would push the limit of their bloodlines through selective marriage and breeding, but as technology progressed and new forms of genetic manipulation emerged, these Clans’ practices got even more radical and extreme.

Evolved Clans have a long and Bloody history in Volunterra. They even played a big role in one of the Countries’ major historical crises; the secession, creation, and rivalry of the Neohumans.

Evolved Humans were powerful, no person in their right state of mind would dare cross them.

But I had just messed with three of them.

It was only a matter of time before the Clans of my attackers found out about their deaths. Once they did they would probably search high and low for the one who was responsible.

Escape was my only option.

I couldn’t really wander around the woods by myself for too long either, eventually, I would get eaten by some animal or encounter some sort of danger. But If I stayed and traveled with these people, I would have safety in numbers and maybe I could even pick up a trick or two about wilderness survival.

Any skill I could pick up could only make me a better expert. I’m grasping at straws here but the options I had been given left me no choice. If learning how to dance could make me stronger I wouldn’t even hesitate.

Beggars can’t be choosers.

****

“Sir we found a clue that the young Masters were collecting resources near a village called Beans village in the western edge of the Western Wilderness. That was the last spot in which they were spotted. After that, it seems the trail falls off.”

“Get all the Clan members to scour every inch of the surrounding area around that worthless village. I don't want a single rock left unturned. My son must be found at all costs.”

“Yes sir!”

“Whoever you are, you miserable rat, don't you think I won't find you, even if I have to kill every single person in that village, I'll get my revenge, just you wait.”