A short update on things now

I played the novel with the new sprites yesterday. It felt weird, but I expected it to be that way. I mean, for the better part of a year, I have been familiarizing myself with the old sprites. For most of you on the other hand, this change will have a much lower shock level especially since you had the illustrations to somehow create a different sense for the upcoming new art. I am happy that the sprites are finally done, but I had to pay for a new set in full...I would like to say something like "I'll be more careful next time", but hopefully there won't be a next time for this novel.

Now that that's out of the way, I can say that I like the new look. It feels weird for me yes, but also...comfortable? I don't know how to place the feeling exactly, but there's a sense of relaxation. It could be that it's all related to the stress finally being over with all the art being redone, but I would say there's a bit more to that. The way the other sprites look...the way their expressions are, the way their bodies aren't as perfect as the previous ones...It feels better. Like they're more alive than they previously were to me. I like them.

I like them a lot, so much so that I decided to postpone the release of chapter 3 and the updated public version with the new sprites until I redo the main menu animation. I am unsure about the prologue because that's a lot of work, but I might cut that entirely too. Those images no longer serve any purpose. They only present something from a bygone era of Light My Way, so I wanted them removed. That means more money was spent on redoing stuff. I hate that I am like this sometimes. I aim as high as I can under my circumstances, but I enjoy it as well. It's a bit masochistic, but I guess we all are one way or another.

Delays, yes. I am also busy with other stuff in my personal life and it does get tiresome sometimes. Well, more than tiresome, but I can't let myself slip into those dark thoughts again. There are days...that aren't the best, but I also do something for the novel every day and it keeps me going to be frank. One of the first thoughts that come to my mind after I wake up is to check the itch page of the novel or discord to see if there's anything I need to take care of. If there's nothing, I try to get more animation work done and/or learn stuff about something I need to figure out. Either way, I'm happy to do this type of work.

For the past few weeks, I have been interacting with people from my previous field and job. I want to vomit honestly. I know how this sounds, but they make me sick. Physically sick. I feel my stomach growing knots just by talking to them and having to interact with them. I know I made the right call to leave my other job. I see it every day. If things wouldn't be so messed up with my mom, I'd be a in totally different place right now. But we can't choose what life throws our way, best we can do is to know how to react to each and every obstacle coming our way. I'm trying to do that. I'm learning how to do that. And some days, I manage to do that.

I attached the remaining stickers that will soon be available in the Etsy shop. I hope you like them :)

Thanks for your continued support. It means a lot to me.

See you in Stradia!
- Hadrian Maximus