The abyss roared, a cacophony of tormented souls and shattered dreams, but its power was waning. Ethan/Lucian, braced against the psychic backlash, felt Aurelia’s hand tighten in his. He hadn't just seen darkness; he'd glimpsed the raw, unedited potential of creation, the chaotic energy that Gabriel sought to control, to mold into perfect narratives. And he understood, with a clarity that resonated through his very being, that stories weren’t meant to be perfect; they were meant to be real.