The Dark Rival

The universe feels rich and immersive — I'd love to know if it was inspired by any particular myth or science fiction universe, or if it evolved during writing.

It seemed like the characters faced a lot of quiet, introspective moments before ramping up again. Was that intentional to develop the characters deeper?

The characters' relationships felt genuine, but I kept wondering how much of their journey was about discovering who they are versus fighting external threats.