The sun was peeking out behind some hills in the distance, complete darkness would come in less than fifteen minutes. The six Holy Knights had waited all day with no signs of attack at all. They had decided hours ago to take off their signature capes so that their opponents might underestimate them and attack carelessly. The town guardsmen had lit some torches and mounted them around the field they were all waiting in, in order to maintain some semblance of light.

“I’m bored!” Clark complained, “Someone go a round with me.”

“Save your energy, idiot,” Alec replied, sounding somewhat annoyed.

“Who you calling an idiot, ugly?” Clark said, getting up off the crate he was sitting on.

“Play nice, boys,” Nina got up, touching Clark on the arm and smiling.

“This is how we play nice,” Clark laughed, getting a smile out of Alec. “Anyways, this plan sucks, Oliver. What are we just gonna wait around forever?”

“Yea, I don’t know, do you have a better idea? This was an odd mission to give us in the first place anyway.” Oliver responded, sighing.

“Agreed,” Sarah said as the other four nodded in unison. “I suppose it’s meant to be a test of some sort?”

“I guess, but it seems like they could’ve tested us closer to the capital, just in case something happens and they need us to come back quickly.” Alec replied, taking a bite out of a piece of bread leftover from their dinner.

At that moment, an arrow zoomed out from the trees of the forest, flying at a velocity that only a Rank 3 or above could even hope to track. Aimed at Clark, it would’ve pierced right through his heart had he not used his wind to push up on it and send it flying up a few feet in the air and gently come back down, landing in the ground a foot or two in front of its intended target.

“Sarah!” Oliver shouted. The town guardsmen had no idea what was going on as the six Holy Knights all sprung up in front of them. Sarah immediately created a wall of earth fifteen feet in length in front of them and sealed off the top, creating a sideways L shape in the ground.

“Everyone get under this!” Sarah shouted after she had completed her construction. The unranked soldiers alongside their commander Stefen, ran as fast as they could to meet the six Holy Knights already under the protective barrier.

“That was fired by a Rank 4,” Clark said after a few seconds had passed.

“I think so too,” Oliver replied, “They’re probably surprised it didn’t hit.”

“It’s not every day you find a Rank 4 Wind Elementalist, I wanna fight him.” Clark grinned.

“Don’t do anything rash, that was a test shot. It’s going to be dark soon, we shouldn’t risk venturing out into the woods right now.” Oliver replied, sounding annoyed.

“I know, I know, but what are we planning to do? Stay behind this barrier all night?”

“At least for now, I doubt they’ll attack tonight anyway. They might even back off after seeing what you and Sarah did. Only a Rank 4 or above could create this sturdy of a barrier this quickly.”