Post by Chimériquement in Aelfric the Wondrous comments

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Okay... I played this game expecting a fun story with a bit of romance and... I discovered one of my favourite games ever.

I... really don't know how to organise my thoughts about it because... the game matches the description and my expectations. It's funny, it's cute, it has action, it's very pretty, it's a romcom, Aelfric is a himbo... So... I shouldn't have been surprised like this...

And yet... I'm confused... I cried playing this?? The responsibilities Aelfric has to carry, the fact that he loves them but also aspires to something as simple as choosing where he lives, Conrad almost putting aside his feelings because of heteronormative pressure, even the extra scenes to be honest... I cried? I cried so much?? I cried at a cheeky joke (the arm-wrestling)? I... What?????????

I really think I... fell in love with Aelfric and Conrad, but in the most platonic meaning possible? I-I don't know, really but... I felt close to them? So close... The way Aelfric is so sure of his feelings that he sends love letters detailing them and him not taking anyone else's opinion into account is so obvious for him? In general, characters struggle to express their feelings, especially men, but Aelfric being so intense and open about them? Him helping out in the village with all his heart? I...

I'm literally a writer, and the type who overthinks everything, puts a lot of tiny details into his work and loves to overanalyse others'... and here... I just cannot do that... I really lived something transcendental and I can't pinpoint why. I don't know the reason, you just... spoke to my feelings in a way I've never experienced and I don't know how to wrap my head around it, and it's giving me a headache and at the same time, I feel mesmerised, as if I were in some sort of trance...

I really am speechless, and sorry for leaving such a confused comment here but... I really enjoyed this game. I enjoyed it a lot. It's clearly going to become an obsession of mine... Seriously, it's certainly in the top 10 fictional and/or artistic experiences I've had in my life. I remembered having felt this once, at sixteen, when I discovered Phaedra from Jean Racine. With the years, I've got to know this theatreplay better than anyone, and I can analyse every single detail of it...

I'd like to give time before stating anything like that but... this might be my favourite game ever? And I don't know why? I can tell you put a lot of heart in it but so does everyone...

Well, I'll stop there because I feel like I'm not making any sense at all andd I apologise for this troubled review. But if anyone is reading me: go play this game, it's a fun and cute story! I do feel like my experience is quite unique so I can't promise you're going to have one of the most fundamental or transcendental experience of your life like I did, but you're definitely not wasting your time: the music, the GUI, the art are all very good, and the story is a cute one to follow.

And to conclude... thank you so much.

LadyMeowsith1 year ago(+1)

I had to think about how to respond to this comment because it's also astounding to me haha. First, thank you for the review, this is quite the endorsement! If you ever find out what it is that made this a transcendental experience for you I'd love to know!

Some backstory: This story is heavily influenced by a oneshot manga I read some time ago. I was similarly obsessed with this oneshot because it had something I couldn't find anywhere else but the author has since passed away. I think it affected me pretty badly knowing there quite literally would not be anything like it again. I read it in 2015 and to this day I still think about it and needed a continuation of the story in some form so I made Aelfric the Wondrous. The humor and overall vibe is the same but the setting and development is wildly different. Conrad and Aelfric's dynamic, however, is near identical to the couple in the source material. I was extremely obsessed with the oneshot that inspired this game, so even though I made it...I kind of know what you mean! I also feel silly about my thoughts on the matter so I didn't include it in the artbook but this is between you, me, and the people who happen to read this comment.

I tried my best to retain the spirit of the original oneshot, so maybe that's what it is? AtW is different enough to where it can stand alone, but it otherwise would not have existed without the source material. And the source material is very very close to my heart. I'm glad it can live on when people play my game.

Chimériquement1 year ago(+1)

This was more than interesting to read, thank you for such a detailed and touching answer! Perhaps, this is a first clue to understand why it touched me so much: you put a lot of a thing you love and, more importantly, that you wanted to pass on us. I must have caught all the affection and the reverence you have for this one shot (by the way, if I may ask: what is it? I'd be definitely curious now!). Funny enough, I have something similar in mind for O2A2, something very influenced by Phaedra (which I mentioned in my previous comment, haha) and, well, I haven't written it yet because of rules, but I kinda understand where you're going from in that regard, I think (I guess I never really talked about what this project was about yet, so, I suppose it's something else between you, me, and anyone reading, haha).

Also, I had some time to think about it (literally spent my day with no thought or feeling but Aelfric and Conrad), and I realised a few things:

- I really love Aelfric's devotion in everything he does: his duty as a hero, and his love for Conrad. In particular, regarding his love, he shows him in what could be seen in a shallow manner (showering him in gifts) but also in what could be seen in a more profound manner (by helping the people in the village and getting closer to Conrad's lifestyle; in particular, seeing them bond after a delivery was good). I think it touched me that both weren't opposed to each other: that these signs of affection, shallow or not, can coexist and be reflections of what is true deep down: love.

- The inversion at the end of the story was clever: after having seen Aelfric trying so hard to embrace Conrad's lifestyle, seeing Conrad doing the same conveyed in such a unique manner the extent of his feelings for him. It has touched me to.

- But overall, I think I lost it in the barn scene, the one in which Aelfric tries to find Conrad, to find an explanation before leaving to fulfill his duties. I do think Aelfric was extraordinary in this scene, and there really was something that broke me in it... Perhaps it's the purity of Aelfric's feelings? Pure enough to have a real and honest talk, without feeling shame for exposing his feeling; and pure enough to respect Conrad's decision and to give him the space he needs. But I've already seen that, but the execution there... has something I have yet to identify, haha.

So, I suppose I make more sense than yesterday (at least I hope!), but naturally, it's going to take me much more time I think to really understand it (hence my curiosity for the one-shot!). It took me years to understand everything I loved about Phaedra (and even so, I read it everyday and discover new things, but I do think I have the gist of it after eight years!), so I don't think one day would be enough but... I'm still willing to discover more about these characters (and you have no idea how happy I got when I saw the word that the sequel was outlined in the artbook, haha).

LadyMeowsith1 year ago(+1)

Sure! I can message you on twitter about the oneshot :) After your comment I had to look up what Phaedra was about lol

Aaa I was hoping someone would notice that the first and second half mirrored their lifestyles! It's so insane that anyone other than myself would think so much about my characters so I really enjoyed reading your analysis and how you interpreted them :')

I agree, Aelfric is very devoted--I've always thought of it as ambition. He never does anything halfway and has a tendency of overworking himself. I think the difference between him and other heroic/ambitious characters is he struggles every step of the way. A major conflict he has is he cannot read social cues. That's why the barn scene is quite sad because Aelfric assumes he didn't communicate himself correctly which is why he restates his feelings. He's desperately trying to get a direct answer from Conrad because he doesn't know how to interpret an ambiguous one. I think readers can generally pick this up, but know Conrad can't give him the answer he needs. When the scene ends, Aelfric believes he's once again misread a situation even though it's not the case. He did everything right and still failed.

I don't know if that at all explains anything or simply restates what you already know LOL. Tbh I imagine Aelfric is probably on the spectrum even if I didn't intentionally write him that way. This is just the way he is--as much as I describe him as a himbo that would imply ignorance but he's aware and acknowledges his own faults but can't really do anything about it. Even if it causes problems sometimes, he accepts himself for who he is.

Anyways I could probably pick apart my characters all day, so thanks for giving me the opportunity to talk about them! I'll keep writing them and I'd love to hear how your thoughts develop over time :^)

Chimériquement1 year ago(+1)

Will definitely reach out, thanks! And yes, Phaedra is a far less wholesome story, haha (I really enjoy story involving a fatality the characters fail to overcome because it is too overbearing…)

And of course! Even from a narrative standpoint, now that I think more clearly about it, it was necessary for Conrad to do so, to prove his own feelings to Aelfric. But it also helped with deepening their connection: they understand better the weights each bears (especially with the whole Bloodbane situation), and somehow, they manage to know each other in a deeper and truer fashion.

Seeing Aelfric’s struggles was interesting too! Admittedly, we haven’t seen much of his actions as a hero, but for the endgame, but I really appreciated the fact he struggled with farm activities and with getting the cues in general. But to see him try his hardest to get better at it sounded very true and very real, which I enjoyed.

Oh, and Aelfric having ASDs makes so much sense, now that you phrase it like this! I recently wrote a character like that and really got attached to him, so it must explain it (won’t go into much details, I saw you added the game in which he appears to your otome jam collection, so I’ll let you discover it when you feel like it fgtyh). But yes, Aelfric doing things right and somehow still failing… maybe that’s also why was so disheartening about him in this scene. A friend also pointed out that, despite the fact he wants to reject it, Conrad doesn’t manage to tell him he doesn’t love him… What can I say, I’m a sucker for romance, haha…

And I’m happy you got to talk about your characters, because I’m very happy to read about them (predictable I suppose, haha)! Will definitely continue to share my thoughts with you (don’t know what is better, haha… I wouldn’t want to saturate the itch page, but at the same time, I feel like an itch notification is less suffocating than a twitter PM one, and I don’t want you to feel pressured to answer to my thoughts and confusion, haha!)

LadyMeowsith1 year ago(+1)

Omg sorry for the late reply, I meant to respond sooner but lost track of things!

Yeah, I was definitely thinking about how Conrad had yet to prove his love, because while it was shown he had liked Aelfric the whole time he didn't act on his feelings. You really summed up what I was trying to achieve! As for Aelfric, there is definitely a lot more to his backstory and the whole Bloodbane thing was just the tip of the iceberg. I'm glad by the end of the story people could see him for who he really is!

Honestly I have such brainworms about them it's not even funny, but yeah Conrad refusing to reciprocate really was because he didn't want to end up hurting him :'^) Like in a way that was how he showed his love however much it hurt. Another thing that is unspoken but true is that Conrad genuinely likes Aelfric for who he is, as opposed to viewing him as a hero, or him being handsome or charming the way most people are smitten with Aelfric :_;

But yeah I will send you the oneshot! Itch.io is a little less intuitive for me because I sometimes forget to check it but honestly I love talking about this stuff because I like dissecting my own characters and work so do not worry about that. I love talking about my ocs like who doesn't lmao

Chimériquement1 year ago(+1)

Ha ha, don't worry, it's fine, we all get busy or tired sometimes!

I'm so excited to discover what's under the surface regarding Aelfric! I saw there was a lot more in the artbook (but I won't be detailing anything in the comments of course fgbhg), and I'm definitely curious! Especially since there seems to be a whole world-building regard Bloodbane and the von Claymondts in general?

It kinda showed! I mean, Aelfric's fangirls are really here for the aesthetic efdvbgtrfg while Conrad doesn't even seem to be seduced by Aelfric's overwhelming presents (or by the flowers that have made so many ladies swoon), but they do have a genuine connection! Aelfric getting rid of his "hero" aura to help at the village showed some new colours and nuances of his to Conrad (at least, that's how I saw it)! But the real connection they managed to get (in both arcs so) was really well-written and romantic, in all the best possible ways!!!!!

Neat, I'll make sure to send a DM later then! And I'm happy to give you an occasion to speak about your OCs, because I really love reading about them!!!

P.S.: Just noticed Aelfric and I had the same MBTI... hehehe

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