Technically a week late or so, but here we are! It's been a full year since UNDER | HEAVEN was launched out into the world.

It's hard to describe how much things have changed since a year ago. Getting the first build out the door involved somewhere in the neighborhood of a year of work confined to just myself, other members of the project, and a few personal friends that were interested in that VN idea I kept going on about. Today, I've just gotten out of a pretty lively discord call of the anniversary read (the last chapter will be next week!) and I'm on the edge of my seat to get chapter 5 out to the public knowing that there are other people excited to read it. On a personal and creative level, it's hard to describe what a profound change that's been.

Of course, it's hard not to consider the past year in light of the broader world. UNDER | HEAVEN itself has been caught repeatedly in the crossfire of the increasing censorship of queer art and the erosion of online autonomy and anonymity. At more dire stakes, we've seen the tightening grip of authoritarianism threaten people and communities- but so, too, have we seen those communities come together in defense of their most vulnerable. It can make it feel silly, at times, to spend so much time and effort focusing on my little furry vanity project. But, it is a fact in which I have absolute faith that the people and community that this project is for will outlast these times, and so the work must continue.

Looking ahead to the coming year, I'm eager to see what new changes will come. With chapter 5 bringing part one to a close, the story itself will be entering something of a new era. The arc to come includes characters and themes that we haven't been able to delve into properly yet and which are very near and dear to my heart. Likewise, I'm very excited to see how some of the more ambitious written scenes will be brought to life by the art team. And, yes, I'll finally get the soundtrack up somewhere, promise.

I think that's about all I've got this time. Stay safe, take care of each other.

I'll see you around,

Faintly