THE SHADOWS OF AETHEL

 The old woman, Aimi, her face a roadmap of wrinkles etched by time and starlight, chuckled a dry, rustling sound like autumn leaves.

 "They say it happened on the night of the Crimson Tear," she began, her voice a low hum against the crackling fire.

 "A star, bright as a thousand suns, fell from the heavens and kissed the earth. Not a fiery crash, mind you, but a gentle embrace."

 Chihiro, her eyes wide with wonder, leaned closer. "And then what, Aimi?"

 Aimi smiled, a network of fine lines crinkling around her eyes. "Then, the world... changed. The stones began to sing, the rivers whispered secrets, and the very air hummed with magic. Some say it was a blessing, others a curse. But no one can deny the Crimson Tear's touch."

 "Curse, more like," grumbled Theo, his weathered hands calloused from years of wielding both blade and magic clenched in his lap. Though he kept his power carefully contained around the child, it thrummed under his skin like a caged storm. "The magic's unpredictable. It's given us wonders, yes, but also... chaos."

 Chihiro tilted her head. "Chaos? Like what?"

 Theo sighed, running a hand through his thick, grey hair. "Like the Whispering Woods, child. Beautiful, yes, but filled with creatures born of the star's power creatures that aren't always friendly."

 Aimi placed a comforting hand on Chihiro's shoulder. "But there's beauty in the chaos, too, little one. The Crimson Tear gifted us with magic, yes, but it also gifted us with the courage to face it. And that, my dear, is a story worth telling." She paused, her gaze distant, lost in memories of that fateful night.

 "Now, tell me, Chihiro, what do you want to know about the Crimson Tear?" Aimi asked.

 "I want to know what life was like before the Crimson Tear," Chihiro answered, her eyes glowing with curiosity.

 Aimi studied the child's eager face, her thoughts drifting. ' I've told this story a hundred times, yet she never tires of it. Perhaps children simply find comfort in the voices of the elderly. I should keep it brief today, given my other obligations. '

 "Life before the Crimson Tear," Aimi sighed, her gaze fixed on the dancing flames. "Well, child, the world was different then. Magic existed only in stories, and people's lives revolved around technology."

 "Can you imagine it, Chihiro?" Theo interjected. "A world without magic?"

 Horror flickered across Chihiro's face. "A world without magic? That's terrifying."

 Aimi patted Chihiro's head gently. "Now, now, little one. It wasn't as frightening as you might think. The world was simply... different."

 Throughout their conversation, Theo kept glancing at his timepiece. ' Time flows like water when stories are shared, ' he mused. ' But I should tell her soon, or we'll be late. '

 "My lady, it's..." Before Theo could finish, Aimi raised her hand slightly, silencing him.

 "Well, child, the time has come for you to rest. We shall continue our tale tomorrow," Aimi said, her fingers still threading through Chihiro's hair.

 "I'm not even sleepy," Chihiro protested softly, but rose from her chair nonetheless. She walked to the door and turned back with a smile. "Goodnight, everyone. Thank you for today. I had a wonderful time."

 As the door closed behind her, Theo's thoughts lingered. ' Such an adorable child. But then, what else could one expect from someone with power like hers? '

 The moment Chihiro departed, Aimi snapped her fingers and vanished in an instant, leaving only a whisper of magical energy behind. Theo bowed his head as she disappeared.

 "I wonder what form she'll take when she returns," he murmured, his gaze fixed on Aimi's empty chair. "She's magnificent... Well, I should begin my preparations. The recruitment awaits."

 The next day found Theo walking the bustling streets of Astralhaven, capital of the kingdom of Therion. He entered an imposing building adorned with an array of weapons and martial decorations.

 ' The décor is rather ostentatious, ' he thought, ' but I suppose every guild has its own style. '

 His entrance drew immediate attention. The room, filled with armor-clad men and women, fell into a hush broken only by whispers and scrutinizing glances.

 "That magical pressure... could it be?" a scarred warrior asked his companion.

 "Yes, it must be him. Only one man carries such an aura," came the nervous reply.

 The scarred man scowled. "Someone like him has no place in the guild. I despise his kind."

 Despite the murmurs of discontent, Theo's presence commanded the room. His reputation had been built not only on his extraordinary power but also his striking appearance. Those who looked upon him often found themselves questioning their own worth, as if his mere existence highlighted the gap between ordinary and extraordinary.

 Even with his power carefully restrained, the guild's veteran members sensed him immediately. Yet Theo paid no attention to their whispers, walking directly to the counter where he greeted the receptionist.

 "Si-sir Theo!" The young receptionist's blue eyes, almost luminescent, widened with admiration. Her black hair framed a face that couldn't hide her youth or her awe.

 "I'm doing well," Theo replied casually. "I'm here to make a request. First, I need you to gather the level seven adventurers."

 The receptionist's professional composure wavered. "Ah, sir, with all due respect... why would you need our strongest adventurers? You know that's not something we can easily arrange."

 He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "It's for a raid... in the Whispering Woods."

 Though barely audible, those two words rippled through the guild hall like a stone dropped in still water. Near the notice board, a man began to tremble violently.

 "W-wait, did I hear that right? No! No! Not again!" His companion, a young woman, gripped his shoulder in silent support until his shaking subsided.

 The guild hall transformed into a canvas of emotions - fear etched on some faces, anger on others, and deep sorrow on many. Yet a few remained notably un-bothered, continuing their drinks and conversations as if they hadn't heard.

 "Whispering Woods, eh? Is he mad?" A gruff veteran took another sip from his tankard. Beside him, a youth with an unusually cheerful expression grinned.

 "How exciting! Perhaps there's genius in his madness, wouldn't you say, Captain? Let's watch and see how this unfolds."

 "No one goes into the Whispering Woods," a burly adventurer declared, his voice heavy with certainty.

 "Or comes out," added another, his green hair stark against his pale face.

 The receptionist fought to control her trembling hands. ' For someone of Sir Theo's caliber to make such a request... there must be a reason, ' she thought, taking several steadying breaths.

 "Gathering level seven adventurers for such a raid would require a fortune," she explained, her voice steadier than her hands. "Even with unlimited funds, the guild would never risk sending our elite members to certain death."

 Theo considered her words carefully. *Money isn't the obstacle, but I can't reveal the true purpose. Everything is proceeding as planned.*

 "Shall I summon the Guild Master, Sir Theo? This matter is beyond my authority," she offered with a bow.

 "No need to trouble yourself," Theo replied, waving dismissively. "Clearly, I was asking for the impossible." He turned and left the guild hall, leaving a wake of whispers and speculation behind him.

 Outside, Theo lit a cigarette, watching the smoke curl into the afternoon air. The guild's reaction had been exactly as anticipated.

 ' Just as she predicted, ' he thought, exhaling slowly. ' Now we wait for the pieces to fall into place... and hope the price isn't too steep. '