Ethan stood motionless, staring at the newly opened passage bathed in golden light. His breath came in slow, shallow gulps as he tried to comprehend the gravity of what had just been revealed to him. The visions of Celos Vex, the ancient betrayal of the Adar, and the knowledge that Vex had returned, leading the Shadow Council, weighed heavily on his mind. The magnitude of what lay ahead was immense.
But he had passed the Trials of the Ether. He had proven himself worthy.
The whispers that had haunted him throughout the temple had gone silent. Now, there was only the low hum of the Ether, pulsing softly around him, filling him with a sense of calm and purpose. It wasn't over, but Ethan could feel something deep inside him had changed. The Ether wasn't a distant power anymore; it was a part of him now, woven into his very being.
The golden light from the passage beckoned him forward. This was the final step.
