Chapter 4

Iris struggled to free herself from her attacker. The latter simply chucked as she looked at the former's efforts. After struggling for a while, Iris thought of something and began controlling the little weed at their feet. The weeds crawled up the attackers legs while she was still focused on Iris. Then suddenly, the weeds began expanding in thickness and size as they coiled around the attacker and forcefully pulled her off Iris. Rubbing her neck, Iris was finally able to clearly see her mysterious attacker who was now suspended in the air by overgrown weeds.

Said attacker was girl her age wearing a hoodie and a pair of loose fitting pants and a pair of sneakers all which were slightly torn or in disrepair. She looked biracial most likely part European and part Oriental. Her dishevelled hair covered part of face but one could tell her looks were above average. Her most prominent features were her emerald eyes, which stared back at Iris's own Ruby red eyes with a fascinated look.

"Ooh kinky aren't we?" she said in a teasing tone causing Iris to blush when she understood what she meant. "Too bad I'm not interested in those kinds of things before the third date." she added as she effortlessly freed her arm, tearing off the weed in the process. Iris had a shocked expression as she knew that the weeds should have enough tensile strength to stop a car. She tried to regain control of the weeds and tried to tie down her opponent once more. However, the latter had slipped out of their grasp and onto the ground.

Iris however, didn't give up as she surrounded her with weeds which then began closing in on the other girl. But just as they reached her, the girl slammed a fist on the ground creating a shock wave and destroying all the weeds. And before Iris could even register what had happened, the girl closed in on her in a blink of an eye, with a fist just mere centimetres from her face.

The pair stood like this for a while with the other girl sporting a victorious smirk. This angered Iris as she fully transformed into her plant form and released vine whips from both her arms. She swung them at the girl who backstep out of her reach. She then began swinging towards her and pushing her back. It seemed as if Iris had the upperhand but an experienced fighter would know that she was simply swinging the "vine whips" without much planning. Her opponent on the other hand was toying with her, dodging her attacks with elegance. Unknown to her however, Iris was simply leading her into a trap. Even as she attacked she gathered several weeds and got them in position to ensnare the girl completely. However, just as they wee were a few yards away from the trap. The girl swung her leg and sent a shock wave that blew away Iris's trap. She then ducked as Iris swung one of the vine whips. Which missed her leaving Iris vulnerable. She then sent punch to Iris's side which was blocked by her armour but still was strong enough that Iris was sent flying back few metres.

Iris winced in pain as she hit the ground. But before she could give up, a hand grabbed her shoulder and shoved her back into the ground. She looked up to see the girl on top of her pulling her arm into a punch. Iris closed her eyes, waiting for the punch to hit. However, when it didn't hit, she opened her eyes to see the girl smirking before getting off her. She then extended her hand which Iris reluctantly took before hoisting her self of the ground. She cautiously stared at the girl as she rubbed the dust of her clothes.

The girl then suddenly spoke. "You know, at first I thought you were just a normal mutant. But now, I'm not so sure."

Iris's widened in surprise as she asked. "What do you mean?"

"Normally, mutants either have the ability to metamorph their bodies or have control over a certain element. Very rarely would you see a mutant who can control both. Moreover, you are able to use Ki without any experience in cultivation." the girl replied.

"Ki?" Iris asked with a frown. "You mean like in Dragon Ball?" she skeptically asked.

The girl shrugged and said. "Of sorts. I used it to blow away your botanical friends twice remember."

Iris then remembered the two shock waves as well as the girl's lightning fast movements. "That was Ki?" she asked.

The girl nodded before she stretched her arms. "Now then, onto business. As you can gather from our previous exchange, you are going to need more than your plant friends if you want to survive and trust me, a gifted person such as yourself would need all the help you can get."

"Gifted?" Iris asked.

"I believe that the word mutant is demeaning. As such I prefer to call them gifted."

"Oh. And what are you going with this?"

The girl scoffs. "Isn't it obvious? I want to train you. I'm a skilled martial artist and I can teach you how to properly control your Ki. It should marginally increase your chances of survival if you encounter an enemy. Unless of course you want things to end up like today, though I imagine that the opponent may not give you enough leeway as I have. "

Iris thought for a minute then asked." What do you get out of this? "

Before the girl could answer a loud grumble echoed through the forest. Iris and the girl stared at one another in silence before the girl broke it and sheepishly said." There's your answer. I need food and a place to crash."

Iris looked at the girl with a deadpan look and asked. "That's all you want?"

"Of course. When you have lived as long as I have, other things aside from basic necessities become pointless."

"You look no younger than me."

"Don't you know that cultivating Ki can open doors to immortality?"

"..."

"I'm just kidding. I just need a place to stay and a source of food for a few weeks before I leave the town."

"How do you plan on doing that with no money?"

"With an ancient martial art called" the bipedal pair of walking legs" also known as walking in layman's terms."

"....."

"....."

"Fine. Let's go." Iris said as she cleaned her self and began to walk out of the clearing. "Wait what's your name?" Iris suddenly asked. The girl smiled as she said. "Sina"

*Later that day*

Sina looked around as she chewed on a slice of pizza. When she said she wanted a place to stay, this was not what she expected. It was a fully furnished apartment with basic necessities as well as entertainment systems such as a TV and stereo.

How could she afford this? Sina thought as she finished the slice. At that moment, the red headed beauty came into the apartment with a few bottles of water and put them in the fridge. Sina watched as she casually took a slice and sat at her side. After a few moments, Sina couldn't take it anymore and asked. "How could you afford this place. You are only 14."

Iris gave her a sideways glance and said. "Secret." Sina sighed in defeat as she knew that she wasn't getting anything out of Iris. Seeing this Iris smiled. If only she knew, that she doesn't just own the apartment but the whole building.

After the meal. Sina sat on the ground in the lotus position and beckons Iris to do the same. Once she did, Sina took a deep breath and began. "Now the most basic lesson in cultivation is to circulate Ki. Since you have a slight idea of Ki, I think you will find this first lesson easy. I want you to imagine a vortex in your body. The Ki as the things the vortex devours.

Skeptical due to the nature of her explanation, Iris had a small frown before she complied. She closed her eyes and imagined a vortex in her body a few moments later, she felt energy fragments much like the ones she releases enter her body. Sina knowing that she had succeeded continued. "The strength of the vortex is proportional to the amount of Ki you gain. You can increase the size or speed of the vortex in order to gain more Ki but be warned it may cause severe backlash if you if the vortex is too fast or too big. On the hand, if you make the vortex small, you can essentially lower your heartbeat thereby reduce your presence. It will also make your body so still that you essentially become invisible. (An: Hehe)

However, if the vortex is ( small, instead of gaining Ki, all the Ki in your body will be expelled in an instant. In short, moderation is key, unless you have to adapt to a situation. "

Sina then takes a moment before continuing." Circulating Ki in your body will also increase your body's storage capacity of Ki. So I want you to circulate Ki and tomorrow morning, we will start on martial arts. "

" Oh I don't think I will be free on mornings. My mom wants me to go to do Yoga with her." Iris said sheepishly. Sina looked at Iris then at her body."Well I guess it can't hurt." She said while subconsciously licking her lips. Iris saw this and her face went deep red. "There should be some of my old clothes inside the closet. Feel free to use them." she stammered as she walked out of the apartment.

Sina walked to the closet and opened it to find Iris's old baggy clothes. Her eyes twitched as she tried to imagine Iris wearing one of them." I'm glad she switched her fashion sense. "She said to herself as she picked up a hoodie from the clothes.