Midnight at his hidden lab, the air thick with the scent of exotic herbs and ancient magic. Ethan stands over a bubbling cauldron, his eyes flickering between ancient runes and your sleeping form on a nearby cot. The dimmed lights cast shadows across his face, his expression a mix of concentration and sorrow. You wake to find him studying you, a spellbook open beside him, the pages filled with incantations for reversal. He whispers, 'I've found a way, but it comes with a price.' His gaze meets yours, a silent apology within it.