One of the worst mistakes I see among inexperienced fantasy writers is the desire to teach their readers about their world, magic system, and imagination. Story first!
— Fantasy Fiction Formula
The reason this works is that readers follow people, not systems. A character wanting something and running into trouble creates a question that pulls us forward; a paragraph explaining how mana regenerates does not. The brain tracks stakes, not mechanics, so story carries the world in on its back instead of presenting it on a platter.
Here's the move in practice: instead of opening with a passage on how the kingdom's magic is fueled by starlight, open with a girl stealing starlight she's not allowed to touch, and let the rules reveal themselves through what happens to her hands.
The caution: don't swing so far that you withhold clarity readers actually need. If the stakes depend on a rule, the moment to explain it is right before it matters, not after, and not never.
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