Aight bois, now we're getting into the skilled bits. First portion: using the method of "telling, not showing" to control the mood and the impression left on the reader.
Back to the tell vs show, using the term "was" in particular. First off, this method is only for those who can write at least a 7/10 consistently as it takes skill to discern when it's being properly used or if it's just telling.
If you know you're at that writing level, then don't ever do this.
If you think you're at that writing level, use this method with caution and a bunch of edit checks.
If you understood why I said those two sentences and how the stuff after the comma is linked with what's before the comma, then you should be able to use it properly. Just keep your arrogance in check in the unlikely scenario your wisdom doesn't match your writing quality.
And seriously, do not attempt if you don't have the skill. Using it incorrectly messes with your judgement on style and such and will often times regress your writing.
If you don't know if you have the judgement or nah, then just don't use the telling verbs at all. Period. This will cause your writing style to veer towards a more descriptive style, then it'd start to focus on the mood and atmosphere to avoid using the descriptive style often. A little after this point is when you should have the judgement.
The method: stating something as simply as possible instead of flaring it up.
----- Example
--Context: Cain (mc) made a spatial gate to transport materials in front of a bunch of people. To them, anyone who could barely use the simplest of spatial magic would be on par w/ the greatest mages in history due to the limited info about it.
As for where they got the storage/subspace objects... they looted all of them from ruins since they can't make any.--
'Dang… as if the atoms being separated wasn't enough, it even converted the mass into energy… I probably shouldn't use this method until it's stable.' Cain contemplated how to improve the spell, unaware of Veronica's admirable and perplexed stare.
She was the only one who was aware that these did not come from Cain's storage ring. Due to the techniques he used to conceal the gate, the bystanders without discerning eyes thought of it as nothing more than a unique ring.
-Focus attention on this sentence-
She was the only one who was aware that these did not come from Cain's storage ring.
----- Notes
Instead of using a version like so:
--Veronica's perplexed and admirable stare bore into Cain, for she remained the only person within the guild who knew those fangs did not come from a spatial ring.--
Look at that flare :chefskiss:
Anyways, it's because of that flare I used "was" instead. The mood I was aiming for (heh... pun always intended) was one of "everyday Tuesday lunch." Boring, nothing out of the ordinary, etc. Because that's what the mc did: He made an extravagant spell appear to be your everyday storage ring, but from a different region (which contributes to his cover story btw).
The boring tone further downplays the mc's achievement in the reader's mind, thus kind of giving them the perspective of a bystander w/ some extra info. It also cements the mc's talent and capability into their minds w/o them knowing. That was his first spatial spell after just barely 4 days of being summoned, and only 10% of the items transported were rendered unusable.
Sometimes the most effective way to say something is the simplest way.