Ether has infinite facets. To draw a comparison, you could think of it as numbers—add a zero to the end, and you get a new result.
But compared to numbers, ether is far more complex despite the similarities. Numbers are composed purely of values, distinguished only by being greater or lesser.
Ether, on the other hand, consists of tiny threads visible only to those with the right permissions and sufficient strength.
Just as numbers differ in magnitude, these threads differ in length, density, rigidity or viscosity, and most intriguingly, in their reactions when interacted with.
There are ten primary digits forming all numbers, from 0 to 9. Threads, however, are infinite, unpredictable, and impossible to categorize completely.
Combining two threads could result in anything—you might gain the ability to fly, become intangible and fall to the planet's core, or trigger an explosion that obliterates everything around you.