Days passed and the emperor sent a letter about the hero trail and missing people.
Tristan knocked at the door of Aric's room. "Aric, the emperor sent the letter!"
"He did?" asked Aric, opening the door.
Kail heard the commotion too and went towards them.
They sat down at a table and Tristan started reading the letter.
Tristan Aeridor, 2nd son of the Aeridor Family, your hero trail begins now. You will go to the city of Elmoria and follow the path to the Demon Forest from there. At the high-rank area close to the area where the Demon Lord is, a lot of adventurers have gone missing, as you already know. Your job is to find the cause of this, but don't let your guard down. I've sent knights on the same level of strength as you and they didn't return, that's why I am sending the Crimson Hero Aric to help you. I hope you are reading this letter as well, Hero Aric. In this hero trail no one else shall accompany you except the hero. You have 6 days to complete it and remember, a hero trail stays secret so don't tell anyone. I wish you luck, new hero.
"What does he mean by a hero trail stays secret?" asked Kail.
"You want to become a hero yet you don't know anything about them?" laughed Tristan.
"You're not supposed to tell anyone what your mission for the hero trail is besides close friends and family," explained Aric.
"Oh… so that's why there are no official news about the missions in hero trails," said Kail.
After that, Aric and Tristan got ready to leave. Six days might seem like a lot of time, but the way to Elmoria is one full day and another two days to return to the capital to report to the emperor.
They said their goodbyes to Kail and Viorel, who had seen them leaving. Aric made a story about how the emperor had called him for some reason and his friend Tristian was heading to the capital too, so they were going together, and Kail was going to wait for Aric in Verdian for his return.
They took a carriage to Elmoria and talked on the way.
"So, one day to go to Elmoria and two days to return to the capital to report to the emperor about the hero trial, that's three days' time for us to discover the mystery about the missing people," said Tristan.
"Yes, and we will go to the Demon Forest tomorrow morning since we'll arrive in Elmoria at around midnight and we can't go there at night," Aric added.
Tristan agreed. "Yes, we need to rest a bit to have energy for this as well."
"We should make a plan on how to approach this as well," added Tristan.
"First we need to know what is causing these disappearances. Let's take the most possible cause: a demon from the Demon Lord's army could be the culprit," said Aric.
"Yes, and who else but a demon could do such things in a forest where demons live?" said Tristan.
Aric thought for a bit. "But to be sure, we'll need someone to act as the prey to lure out the demon, and the prey can't be one of us because they would recognise us."
"It could be a monster-like demon. You know, like the ones we kill in the Demon Forest who don't work for the Demon Lord. They can't think like us and are like animals, so recognition won't be a problem."
"True, but only a member from the Demon Lord's army could kill the emperor's knights at your level of strength. And you're S-Rank, correct?" Aric looked at Tristan.
"Yes, you're right. But what about the prey part? We can't just ask a civilian or adventurer to help us."
"Wait… why doesn't one of us just wear a hood around the face so the demon won't recognise us?" suggested Aric. "I can't believe I didn't think of this."
"Haha," Tristan smiled. "You're right. I can't believe we didn't think of it."
On their way, they talked and planned what to do, and after that they took a nap. When they woke up, they were at Elmoria. They found an inn to stay in for the night and as soon as morning came, they got ready and went into the forest.
"We're here," said Aric.
Both of them put a hood on their faces and started looking around. They even separated for a while, but still nothing happened.
"I can't find anything out of the ordinary," said Tristan. "You?"
"Same here," replied Aric.
They sat under a tree around some bushes and decided to wait and observe.
Hours passed but nothing happened.
"You think we're at the wrong place?" asked Tristan.
Aric was getting ready to reply but then sensed something. "Do you sense that dark mana?" he asked.
"Demons?!" Tristan said with a voice a bit too loud.
"Quiet, and hide your mana more," Aric said to Tristan.
The demons were from the Demon Lord's army as they suspected. They looked like they were searching for something.
"You think they are looking for us?" Tristan's voice was shaky, he had never fought a member from the Demon Lord's army before.
"I don't know, but get ready to fight if necessary," replied Aric.
The demons stood right at the entrance to the Demon Lord's area, when suddenly a spell activated and a cage made of magic appeared and captured them. Humans were seen unconscious in the cage as well.
"It's the missing people! I recognize them from the missing posters!" said Tristan as he saw some of the unconscious people's faces.
Just as Aric and Tristan ran towards the cage, it disappeared.
"Teleportation magic?!" thought Aric.
Just at that moment, when they ran towards the cage, hidden demons ran towards it too.
"It seems there were more demons hidden in the woods."
"Was this just a diversion to catch us?"
As Aric and Tristan got ready to fight, more demons came. Aric recognised them.
"What?! Three squad captains?" Aric said, shocked. "What are they doing here? The 2nd squad captain, 3rd and 6th?"
"What, squad captains?!"
If it couldn't get any worse, the Demon Lord appeared as well.
"Even I recognize him! The Demon Lord!" Tristan was shocked and scared but still holding a fighting position.
Aric had his fighting position ready as well. "We're screwed, can this get any worse??" Aric thought to himself.
The Demon Lord walked towards them calmly yet mighty. "We meet again, Hero."