The Rising Wave

The Rising Wave packs a lot of world-building and character moments into a novella. I'm curious how the pacing was planned to keep everything engaging without feeling rushed.

The rules of magic seemed intricate but never confusing, which is impressive for a novella. What did others think about how it was introduced and developed?

The sea as a backdrop adds so much atmosphere and symbolism. I wonder if real-world seafaring stories influenced the world-building or if it was purely fictional.