3 Weeks Later...
Since the incident Nina has been training herself to her limits in guilt for the pain she caused Lyon. Had she known she was under his watch she would have never let herself become more open or close to others despite only knowing him a few hours before he showed up.
But despite what had occurred Lyon still pushed to be close to her and in a weeks time she grew to accept him and became best friends. Although he was constantly trying to persuade her to tell Gray she was his little sister but she always steered off the topic, stating it was not the best item for that.
Meanwhile the constant threat of the Alvarez Empire and Spriggan 12 lurked nearby as the hostility between that of them and the Ishgar Kingdom, along with the growing hostility with the rest of Fiore.
Thankfully a special event was drawing near that involved the Mermaid Heel and further surprising Nina as she was nominated to participate in it. There's nothing like an S-Class Exam to bring the hopes and joys of our fellow wizards.
"A what?" I asked Millianna as she along with most of the members of the guild were pumped up and excited.
"An S-Class Exam! It's a test that a select number of members take to qualify to be an S-Class Mage and take S-Class missions! Haven't you noticed everyone trading hard recently, the test is next week and everyone is all ready to go, Master Aurora will be announcing it soon!" She said excitedly before running off to join a group of girls near the bar who awaited eagerly.
So that's way the guild has been so chaotic recently, I hadn't really hear of this until now, but they had informed me of S-Class quests when I first joined. Looking up I saw that Kagura and a few other members stood next to Master Aurora on the second floor, other S-Class mages I presume.
After a few minutes she clapped her hands loudly causing the guild to grow quiet and still. She however seemed quite proud as she stared down at all of us before clearing her throat.
"As you all know next week is the S-Class Exam, where five of our finest guild member will be able to compete in order to achieve S-Class Mage status. But don't fret if you do not triumph for you are sure to succeed next time, never give up." She firmly announced as everyone seemed to agree along with her.
"Now I've thought long and hard about who these Mages, some seemed to be an easy choice while others had a certain spark that lead me to chose them. If you're not chosen don't be ashamed as you must keep striving to be the best you can be." She stated proudly as she cleared her throat before pulling out a list along with reading glasses.
"Millianna." People congratulated her as she bounced up and down pulling Pandora and me into a hug in glee.
"Risley Law." Chubby as people called her smirked proudly as if there wasn't an ounce of doubt about her being chosen.
"Beth Vanderwood." The country girl stuttered out in surprise not expecting this as people just giggled at her confusion.
"Arana Webb." The green haired woman simply smiled saying she would do her best as everyone seemed to have felt depressed as she was about to announce the last candidate.
"Hey why is everyone so depressed all of a sudden?" Pandora asked no one in particular as the four chosen girls laughed at our confusion.
"Because it's obvious who the last girl is going to be and they won't be picked this year." Chubby replied as I looked at the others who stared back at me knowingly as I realized who that girl was.
"And our last candidate is our newest member, Nina. With that we have announced all of this years candidates, prepare well and make us proud girls." She announced proudly before leaving as Kagura made her way down the flight of stairs towards us.
"Are you sure I should be a candidate, shouldn't it be someone whose been here longer or-"
"Nina it's fine, everyone here knows the extent of your skills and respect it greatly. If anything it would be insulting you if we didn't, make sure to do your best out there girls." Kagura stated before walking off as the other four squealed in excitement about the competition.
Meanwhile I couldn't help but want to tell Juvia about it, maybe they can give me some helpful tips. Plus Pandora did develop a crush on that Pantherlily exceed from the times we visited the Fairy Tail so she would probably love to come with me.
I could also visit Lyon too since he is an S-Class Mage, he probably knows what to expect. I'll just call them ahead of time to let them know I'm coming... Oh wait Juvia did say that her guild was busy handling some business.
Oh well I'm sure Juvia could handle it along with her guild, they were Fiores strongest before they were disbanded. But then again everyone seems busy lately, maybe I'll just head to the mountains and train some more.
"Hey Nina whatcha thinking, you've been standing there talking to yourself for some time now." Pandora stated as I looked around to see some of the other girls looking at me slightly giggling at me, remarking so cute at me as I looked away embarrassed.
"Nothing much, I was thinking about heading to train the the mountains for a little bit, get my mind off some things. Do you want to come?" She sadly shook her head before giving me a nervous vibe.
"Well you see I can't go since Pantherlily-sama and Pandora-sama are going on a da-date you see..." She stuttered as I smiled knowingly, he sure works fast but they seem to really like each other.
"That's fine I'll just go by myself, it might do me so good to have some alone time." I stated getting up and she flew above me slightly worried.
"Are you sure it's ok to be out and alone right now?"
"Don't worry I'll be fine, I'll head off now, make sure to inform everyone in my absence." I state running on ahead, leaving a still worried Pandora behind.
The exceed looked slightly conflicted on what to do, lately Nina had been changing and becoming the girl she once was when she was a child, so happy and carefree. But Acnologia and the threat of the Spriggan 12 was nearby, willing to attack at any given moment, she didn't feel it was a good idea to be alone now, especially in that terrain.
Looking around for some communication lacrima she quickly found one before calling a certain person she had in mind. I don't care if she gets angry at me for this, as long as she's still fine after this I don't mine.
"Not as cold as it was in Iceberg but it'll do." I say aloud as I reached a peak of a mountain range, deciding to stop and train here.
I began to strip out of my garments only deciding to leave my undergarments on in case someone is stupid enough to come here. It felt strange doing this again, Skadi always thought that clothes got in the way and held me back from the cold so I usually trained naked.
Allowing the cold settle in my hair slowly changed white to adapt to my surroundings as my bright blue eyes narrowed into slits. Looking at my reflection in a piece of ice I couldn't help but laugh at it, remembering the countless times I've trained like this with Skadi and Pandora.
Slowly tracing under my eyes I couldn't help but laugh at the day I freaked out when I discovered they were this bright blue color versus my original black eyes. Skadi quickly explained it was just my bodies way of accepting and showing that I was an Ice Dragonslayer, but people see to confuse it as me being a foreigner which wouldn't be incorrect.
Standing up tall and straight I listened to the calming sounds of the wind and snow falling as I concentrated. My eyes snapped open as I felt myself release some of my inner magic.
"Dragon Force..." I started as the winds and snow picked up quickly forming a rapid tornado around me as my surroundings began to rumble awake.
"Ice Drive." With that scales began to form across my skin as my magic radiated off me as everything began to freeze completely solid around me, including the mountain itself.
Rising my arm I stopped everything in midair and otherwise before dismissing it causing everything to shatter and fall all around me. Using the newly acquired ice I quickly formed a pair of wings to fly around as I propelled myself into the area, realizing I had flattened the entire area below as I looked down.
None the less I brushed it off as I had yet to actually start my training yet, I'm going to have to completely immerse in my training if I'm going to get any stronger then him. Narrowing my eyes at the thought I simply tsked as I started to practice my Dragonslaying and Ice magics.
...
"Are you sure it's around here Wendy?" I asked as she nodded her head as Natsu also seemed to intently stare in that direction.
"If that strong magic reading is coming from here then there's no doubt about Lucy. I guess they don't call her the Ice Queen for nothing, just how much power does she have." Erza stated clearing having underestimated the small girl, I can't blame her.
Nina looked like a small teenager despite being an adult, it's hard to take her seriously considering she is quite cheerful and playful despite being an Ice Mage. She hardly ever serious except for the first time we meant but even then it was a short greeting.
"Just a little longer guys, the source is coming from up ahead!" Wendy stated as we continued forward.
Are we really sure this is her, if anything this feels like the magical aura a Spriggan member has.
...