[Venat considers, one hand curled before her chest. To use aether as an energy source is hardly unreasonable, but the energy in question can hardly be destroyed; ultimately, in its expenditure, the aether will doubtless be recirculated in the world once again. But at that, she considers one of the potential exceptions: primals, who with sufficient power may prove able to drain aether from the land excessively to sustain themselves. So if their usage of aether for power is similar...]

I must speculate that the study of aether is not particularly advanced, in your world. Quite understandable if few are unable to manipulate it.