House of Imperial

The world-building felt so layered and immersive, but I'm curious whether the author started with the magic system or the alien civilizations first. How did the creative process shape this unique setting?

Some characters made choices that felt ambiguous or even questionable, yet I couldn't help but want them to succeed. How do others interpret their motivations?

Balancing intense action scenes with tender moments was impressive, but I wondered whether the pacing was planned to keep the tension high or if it evolved during writing.