Aisha POV:

The air in Crocus had the familiar smell of excitement about it, the Grand Magic Games began tomorrow and the population couldn't wait. Across the whole city, every single hotel, bar and restaurant was packed. Which had forced me to an awkward table outside a small bar in one of the outer districts, though it wasn't all bad. It was a characteristically warm and pleasant day, it was a little strange getting used to this weather from Hijaara but it certainly is more hospitable.

I had a glass of wine in my hand, I took it up to my nose and took it in. It was a dark red, an unmistakable floral aroma. Fitting for Crocus I suppose. I took a small sip and savored the taste,I would only have this one glass as I hate fighting with a hangover and wouldn't be making a habit of it. Even if it was the games.

The Master had come up with a brilliant plan in all fairness, exploiting the rules to add a second team into the games. I would be on that second team alongside Mira, just a shame Cana is acting as support. She's the last person I need near me right now, she is putting me on edge. She already doesn't trust me and she hasn't seen much of my powers yet, when I'm fighting someone for real alongside her she'll be even more suspicious. I'll have to be careful, ever since I've come to Ishgar it's been one thing after another.

"Aisha?"

I heard my name and looked up from my glass and nothing could've prepared me for what I seen

"Nabila? What on earth are you doing here?"

I sat my glass down on the table and stood up quickly, wrapping Nabila in a tight embrace and planting a gentle kiss onto her cheek. I had a quick glance over her body and she looked considerably different since the last time I saw her. Nabila was short and stout, she was built like a barrel and strong like a gorilla. She was in her forties and her aged face had seen it's fair share of conflict and battles. She was dressed in a long black abaya, it made me smile to see our culture represented so far away from home.

"I left Hijaarra after the war, I spent some time in Vistarion after Hijaara joined the Empire but even then I couldn't escape the memories and found myself here. I've been traveling since but now because of the Games I'm here."

I walked back over to my seat and sat down as Nabila sat in the opposite seat, I couldn't help but notice she had put on a little weight since our days in the Daughters'. I suppose when you're fighting everyday and rationing constantly it can lead to weight gain.

"That makes sense, some of the things that happened during that war are best to be forgotten, I don't think I myself will ever be able to forget."

I sighed to myself and closed my eyes, everyday I think about the war and what I did during it. The guilt of that will never leave me, I cannot and will not forgive myself. I'm surprised Nabila can even look at me.

"You should Aisha, you were a teenager and thrown into a war because of the Northern Tribes, they invaded Hijaara unprovoked and because we were Priestesses, they sent us out first."

"We were the best for the task in those early days of war. We'd gauge how strong our enemy was, what their strengths and weaknesses were and we were always sent on sensitive missions".

Nabila laughed heartily, she smiled widely. Her expressive green eyes lit up.

"I will never forget our first mission, The Vanguard was coming right on top of us. They were marching towards Osiris and had to be stopped, then we were ordered to assassinate their commander. What an evil bastard he was, what was his name again?

"Ailenor Stormsinger, Chief of the Stormsingers and Primarch of the Vanguard. A powerful lightning user."

I answered back immediately, I wouldn't forget that man for as long as I lived. He was the first person I had ever killed.

"That's right, he was pure evil. He led his tribe and a few others out of the barren hellhole they came from into Hijaara, their first invasion during the war. They razed villages, took slaves and wanted to seize Osiris and open Hijaara up so they could conquer the whole Kingdom. Then when he was a few days from Osiris he suddenly fell down, I still can't believe you managed to poison him. That was incredible work that saved Hijaara, you shouldn't feel ashamed about that.

"Killing Ailenor is one of the only things I don't feel ashamed about. He was an evil man and his death saved Osiris for another day. I feel worse for the city after that."

Nabila recoiled slightly, her face scrunched up. She clearly felt bad about asking me, she shifted her feet slightly in some sort of awkward reflex. The fabric of her head covering had concealed much of her face but I could still see that she was embarrassed. She scratched her neck and cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry I asked you about that, I know you don't like talking about the war. Especially with how it ended, but I do have another question. What are you doing in Ishgar? Are you working for…"

"I don't work for them anymore, I just had to leave Alkatasia. After everything that happened I needed a new start, Fairy Tail is my new start."

Nabila smiled gently, I took a long drink of my wine to finish the glass. Whenever I discussed my past it was always like this, it brought up bad memories. Nabila had taken one of my hands into her own and rubbed gently, her maternal instinct had always been present. She had been a Priestess for decades, she knew how to deal with someone's emotions. As long as it wasn't her own.

"That's understandable, so you're fighting in the games? Just know that I'll be cheering for you, we may not be comrades-in-arms anymore but I still care about you."

"I'll be fighting, if you come to the arena you'll see it. I'll do the Daughters' justice and win this for them. "

Nabila stood up and let go of my hands, she smiled and began walking away. Before walking back onto the street she turned around to face me.

"Aisha, stay safe. If you can do one thing for me, please stop feeling guilty about Saadiya. There's nothing you or we could do to stop what happened."

I nodded at her and she turned around and walked down the street, disappearing into a crowd of people. She had left me to deal with my own thoughts, Saadiya being chief among them. You can't just forget about someone you loved, especially if you're the one who killed them