TEACHER OR NOT?

Sponge quickly realized that challenging this strange woman wearing a fox mask was one of her worst decisions, especially while intoxicated. How on earth was the woman moving so fast? Sponge yelped as she rolled away, one of her axes lodged in a tree trunk after her failed attempt to throw it at her opponent.

"You seemed quite confident in your victory," the masked woman remarked, dragging her sword through the sand. Sponge took a step back, chuckling nervously, twirling her remaining axe in hand. "W-Well! I still am," Sponge cleared her throat, only to yelp as the woman charged at her, feinting a swipe at her throat. Sponge leaned back, yelping again as the masked woman twirled and delivered a kick to her stomach.

Sponge gasped, landing on her back, her head spinning. Shaking it off, she looked up, muttering, "Goddamn asshole," as she saw the woman standing confidently, hand on her hip, leaning on her sword. The masked woman exuded cockiness–and perhaps certainty that she would win. Sponge, still unsteady, rose to her feet. "That was—I tripped on my feet!" she insisted, pointing her axe at her opponent, who only tilted her head in response.

Gritting her teeth and refusing to be bested by this masked weirdo Sponge thought, No way am I getting beaten up by some weirdo in a mask! "How did you learn to fight like this?" she asked as they circled each other, the masked woman mirroring her movements with eerie precision. Both locked in a tense, circular stare-down.

The masked woman remained silent, her masked eyes fixed uncomfortably on Sponge. It gave off a strangely familiar vibe…

Without hesitation, Sponge sprinted, sliding between the other woman's legs and swinging her axe towards her thigh. However, the masked woman leaped, twirling in the air, and gracefully landed back on the ground. Gritting her teeth, Sponge jumped to her feet just as her opponent rushed towards her, their weapons meeting with a loud clang that echoed through the forest and likely the deserted town as well.

An ache shot through Sponge's shoulder; the impact of their clash felt as though her bones were vibrating. How strong is this woman? Sponge pondered, their weapons clashing again, forcing her to grit her teeth and suppress the pain. Pushed back, she maneuvered around the trees, narrowly dodging the other woman's close swings.

The masked woman seemed almost nonchalant, effortlessly advancing while Sponge struggled to evade her attacks. Using her axe and wrist armor to block, Sponge defended herself as best as she could. "Is this all you can do?" the masked woman inquired, her voice tinged with boredom. Sponge yelped, ducking when the woman twirled her sword towards her neck, catching a glimpse of a few strands of her hair floating through the air. "Hey! You just cut a piece of my hair!" Sponge exclaimed, taking a few steps back, nearly falling off the cliff's edge.

"Oh crap—" Sponge began, only to let out a startled cry as she turned around to find the masked woman's sword at her throat. "O-Okay, I admit defeat!" Sponge raised her hands, chuckling nervously as she faced the mask. "Look—uh, cliff… a really—really scary cliff," she stammered, glancing back at the edge before emitting another startled yelp.

The masked woman remained silent until she finally spoke, "You never told me what I would get for beating you," leaving Sponge staring at her in confusion. "Uh… gold—" Sponge began, but the woman interrupted, "How about your head?".

"My what!?" Sponge exclaimed, only to have the woman grab the front of her hoodie and pull her away from the cliff, her legs trailing behind her. "Woah woah woah, wait!" Sponge struggled, attempting to pry the masked woman off, but her grip was unyielding. "I-I don't understand. Can you at least explain to me—" Sponge let out a small yelp as she was thrown to the ground, her axe slipping from her hand.

Rubbing her head and sitting up, Sponge flinched when the masked woman displayed a hologram of her face. "You're a bounty… Sponge," the woman stated as Sponge nervously smiled, asking, "Wow… how much is it?" Before she could get an answer, the woman scoffed, seizing her hood and dragging her away, deftly kicking up the axe in the air and catching it. "That was cool! How did you do that? Do you play soccer or something?" Sponge inquired as she was led towards a tree trunk, where the woman retrieved her other axe lodged in it. "My other axe! Yay!" Sponge cheered, only to yelp when her foot hit a stray rock on the ground as she was dragged back towards the town.

"That's pretty impressive. I know you're after my head, but you were twirling around, flying, and you're really strong," Sponge complimented, gesturing animatedly as the woman sighed without responding. "Who taught you? Wait, no—do you think you could…" Sponge twirled her fingers shyly, trailing off with a gasp when the masked woman paused, looking down at her. "Would you, um, teach me how to do that?" Sponge asked with a hopeful smile, but the woman resumed walking without a reply.

"Is that a no, or…" Sponge inquired, looking up with a pout, her gaze shifting to the axes in the woman's hands. "You haven't given my axes back yet—they're really important," Sponge scratched her head, groaning before slumping, allowing the woman to continue dragging her away.

"Would you accept me as your student though?" Sponge asked again, lifting her head and clapping her hands together with a loud slap.

Once more, the masked woman remained silent, prompting Sponge to let out a prolonged groan. "Please respond. Did you suddenly go mute or something? It's a long trek back to town, your arm might get tired of dragging me—I can walk on my own!" Sponge exclaimed before being abruptly thrown face-first into a pile of leaves. "Walk then," the other woman remarked, stepping over her and continuing on. Sponge spat out leaves, pushed herself up, and followed after her.

"Shouldn't you be, like, tying my hands or blindfolding me? What if I have a secret knife hidden somewhere?" Sponge queried as she ran after the woman. "You don't have what it takes to beat me," the woman retorted, eliciting an offended look from Sponge. "Wooooow," Sponge drawled before whistling. "Talk about flexing. Is that what we're doing now? Flexing?"

Humming, Sponge scratched her cheek. "Then again, it's not much of a flex when you just kicked my ass earlier… hmm," she muttered, turning towards the silent woman. Not even her breathing could be heard. In fact, Sponge couldn't even hear the leaves crunch under her feet... She's like a ghost!

Observing the ground, Sponge raised a brow as the masked woman stepped over a leaf without a sound. "Cool," Sponge mumbled, lifting her gaze and skipping slightly, excitement coursing through her. "Come on, how are you even doing that?!" Sponge pointed at the woman's feet, hearing a silent huff from behind the mask as the woman quickened her steps, her hair flowing behind her.

"I know I probably should run because, you know, you want my head and all... Can I have those back?" Sponge pointed at her axes, but the other paid her no mind. "Ugh! Fine!" Sponge grumbled, running after her.

—

The iron bars slammed shut with a resounding bang as Sponge grumbled, her hands bound together by thick iron chains connected to her neck, also encased in chains, and her ankles restrained by cuffs. "So unfair. I followed you, and you didn't give me my axes back," Sponge whined, observing the masked woman as she conversed with the man with an unusually long beard.

"I've brought your bounty in, alive," the masked woman announced, extending her hand to the bearded man who cackled, his fingers running through his beard. He seemed like a peculiar, possibly lecherous figure. Sponge glared as she hobbled closer to the iron bars, resting her cheek against them, observing the interaction. "Are you seriously working for this guy? I could probably offer you a better deal," Sponge suggested, but the bearded man responded with annoyance, while the woman only let out a muffled sigh. "Can someone muzzle this woman?" he demanded, before the masked woman intervened.

"Will you pay me, or should I just take your head as payment?" she inquired, tilting her head as the man let out a small shriek, agreeing hastily. "Yes, yes, of course I will! Come, come!" he exclaimed, gesturing towards the door and urging the woman to follow.

Sponge narrowed her eyes, huffed, rolled her eyes, and settled back on the metal bed, sitting down. "Man, I just wanted to get some drinks," she muttered to herself, observing as the two exited the room. Her gaze shifted to the axes on the wall—her father's axes. Rising to her feet, she hobbled towards them, gripping the iron bars and staring at the familiar weapons.

—

It was fortunate that the masked woman did not take the axe, but it did not sit right with Sponge to see it displayed as a trophy. The axe was meant to be used, whether by the children in the tribe or by her father to aid other tribes by cutting down trees.

"An ore miner cutting trees, hilarious," Sponge chuckled to herself, shaking her head. She attempted to reach for the axe, but the chains tugged uncomfortably at her neck, causing her to pause and lower her hands, eventually leaning her forehead against the cold bars. After a moment of contemplation, she raised her head and struck the bars with a small thud resonating in the room.

"Sorry, Dad. Looks like your axe is stuck there," Sponge murmured to herself, closing her eyes and exhaling through her nose, clenching and unclenching her fists as she felt heat enveloping her limb, flashes of fire and wailing— "Those axes aren't yours, are they?" a voice inquired, causing Sponge to gasp and lift her head to see the masked woman standing at the door, gazing at her.

"Guess you could say that," Sponge shrugged, leaning on her shoulder. The masked woman slowly approached the cell. "Why are you still here? Don't tell me that weirdo guy didn't pay you enough," Sponge grinned, but the woman remained silent, turning towards the wall and eyeing the axes.

Sponge heard her hum, watching as the woman picked up the axe. "Woah, hey—I was kidding. Please don't take those away," Sponge protested, her voice slightly trembling as the woman examined the axe, the black metal gleaming. She rotated it in her hands. "This is made with a magic ore. Not many can obtain these ores, and few use them for weapons—more for refining, perhaps," the woman remarked, causing Sponge to swallow nervously, hoping she wouldn't take it away. As she observed the woman skillfully swinging the axe, she simply stated, "Light," nodding in approval.

"I could—I could make you one. You don't have to take that," Sponge nervously chuckled, trying to ignore the loud thumping of her heart. "It's made out of pure magic ore. Tell me—where would you find that to make me one?" she inquired, approaching Sponge and rolling the axe, creating a loud SHING that made Sponge wince slightly. As the masked woman leaned towards the bars, her posture exuding a threatening aura, Sponge took a step back.

"Any lands are full of magic ores if you know where to find one," Sponge replied, biting her lower lip as the other woman hummed, examining the axe. "If I ask you to get me one, will you give it to me for free?" she asked, twirling the axe in her hand. Sponge nodded hesitantly, "M-Maybe?" The woman then swung the axe towards the iron bars, causing Sponge to yelp as she watched the other woman effortlessly slice through them—like slicing through butter. Sponge's mind supplies unhelpfully. "Make it a yes," the masked woman demanded, kicking the iron bars down before cutting Sponge loose with the axe, the chains snapping loudly, prompting a surprised curse from Sponge.

"What—why are you helping me?" Sponge muttered, her axes returned to her, relieved to finally hold the familiar wood in her hands. "You're right, the pay wasn't enough. But you can be of use. Tell me where you left your horse," the woman stated, stepping out of the cell, with Sponge following closely, almost stumbling. "How did you know I have a horse?" Sponge inquired as they ascended the stairs, coughing as she noticed blood, finding the bearded man dead on the floor with one of his hands severed, presumably succumbing to blood loss.

"What happened?" Sponge asked, observing as the woman stepped over the body, waving a dismissive hand. "I don't like people touching me," she explained as Sponge winced, trailing behind. "I left my horse behind the bar house," Sponge disclosed as they exited the building, ensuring to shut the door tightly to conceal the gruesome scene inside.

As the masked woman headed towards the bar, Sponge swiftly followed, returning her axes to their holsters on her thighs. "Uh… What should I call you?" Sponge inquired, attempting to catch up, but the woman remained silent. "Wait—does this mean you can teach me to fight as well?" Sponge asked eagerly, clasping her hands together and giving the woman a hopeful look.

The woman's silence persisted, her focus unwavering as Sponge pouted. "You're pretty quiet, huh? Oh right, here," Sponge pointed towards a small hallway that served as a shortcut to the back of the bar. The masked woman simply walked towards it, effortlessly jumping onto some boxes before striding forward, with Sponge following suit.

"Cecil! I missed you," Sponge exclaimed, leaping towards her horse and embracing it. She then produced an apple from her pants, which Cecil joyfully devoured. Turning to the masked woman who stood to the side watching, Sponge introduced them, "Oh, yeah, meet Cecil—and Cecil, meet... uh, Fox Mask?". "Vvh," the masked woman—Vvh—responded with a tilt of her head. "Come on, the sun is setting. Let's get out of here," Vvh said, taking the reins from Sponge and leaping onto the horse.

Sponge gaped momentarily before Vvh signaled for her to follow. She quickly climbed onto the horse, nearly slipping back if not for Vvh grabbing the back of her hoodie and pulling her up. Sponge awkwardly chuckled, "Thanks," her face flushing with embarrassment. "So, where are we going?" Sponge asked, gripping the saddle as Vvh directed Cecil to backtrack, turning her around before snapping the reins. "Away from here," Vvh replied matter-of-factly as Sponge let out a small 'eek' when Cecil bolted forward.