Hello, this is Torriet.

Continuing from our last post, I'm back today with the Music edition of our Development Log.

Writing about music is actually the hardest part, since I can't directly play the tracks for you right beside you...

While I will provide YouTube links, the mastering standards differ slightly between in-game tracks and commercial releases.

Because of this, World 4 and several other BGMs haven't been officially uploaded yet.

So, for some tracks, I will have to share them via link sharing instead.

Also, it bothers me that YouTube's automatic encoding alters the sound and takes away from the original feel.

I regret not being able to master them specifically for YouTube. I feel like there should be a better way.

Enough with the preamble. Let's walk through the tracks based on each character's theme song.

Iruka

This is Iruka's theme song.

Looking at it now, the thumbnail image is quite old. I reworked this track significantly once after release, and now it feels well-finished.

Perhaps out of ambition, and because it doesn't have many views yet,

I think I'll re-upload the entire collection from scratch once I clean up the Four Lights OST album for archival purposes.

I first wrote the melody for this song back in high school.

Most of the piano parts are played directly by me and refined through Cubase.

From the very beginning, you hear the splashing sound of dipping feet into a lake,

alongside the ambient chirping of lake insects.

The violin and timpani harmonize together, lending powerful support to a fragile melody.

As the very first song I ever created, it holds countless memories for me.

I held onto it dearly, and I am glad to have finally finished it as an orchestral version.

Fitting Iruka's theme, I titled the track "Remembering Beautifully."

Starting at 2:30, a clear, sharp impact resonates.

I wondered what sound it would make when she and Teiria became holy spirits, and it blended surprisingly well.

This track is an arranged version of that theme.

It plays often whenever Iruka appears, so it might feel much more familiar to many of you.

Erie

Erie's theme song.

This is one of my personal favorites, and a piece that my composition teacher praised immensely.

The idea, the melody, and the sense of volume achieved with minimal instrumentation.

The modern arrangement and progression—

Being told that everything about it was excellent makes me so happy whenever I listen to it.

I suppose I really craved recognition back then.

The heavy cello that swells up starting at 2:12 is truly a pleasure to listen to.

It carries Erie's melancholic yet lyrical essence, bringing a sense of peace to anyone listening.

This song was composed with the feeling of sitting by a campfire, watching the morning sunrise, and focusing on the sounds of nature.

I arranged this song once for World 4, remember?

A slower tempo than the original, paired with drums resembling a heartbeat.

I crafted it using only piano and cello.

Those who have experienced that specific scene in World 4 will understand why it was arranged this way.

I wanted to convey with all my heart: "Your world hasn't ended yet." I wanted to heal her.

The melody for this track was also conceived during my high school days.

Since I don't write sheet music, I kept it alive by playing it on the piano whenever it crossed my mind.

Later, I recorded it into Cubase MIDI and treasured it until finally completing the track.

When it echoed alongside the violin just as originally intended, the thrill was a private joy only I could savor.

Ever

Ever's theme song.

It opens with notes similar to Erie's theme, but drops into unstable harmonies, shifting the entire atmosphere.

Just before the violin enters, a crashing impact hits, as if falling into an abyss.

I wanted to capture the despair, anxiety, and terror she must have felt.

As an aside, this was one of the hardest songs to compose.

The rhythm refuses to fall on a standard beat.

An unconventional melody.

Upon first listen, following the melody just by listening to the violin isn't easy.

Yet, I pushed forward with conviction, believing it had to be this melody and no other.

A sharp, sorrowful piano echoing against cold wind sounds.

Can you feel the condensed rage and hatred simmering beneath its fragility?

Piano & Forte

The twins' theme song.

Composed under the themes of "fantastical" and "dreamlike."

In Four Lights, the protagonist wields time-related powers,

and the perception of time shifts when trapped in hallucinations. Wondering what music fitting those keywords would sound like,

I enthusiastically layered samples, laid down long sustain notes on the contrabass,

and played piano phrases that seem repetitive yet subtly diverge.

It was an absolute joy to create.

Capturing the story's most enigmatic, bizarre, and mysterious characters—

I poured their emotions, surroundings, and ambiance directly into the notes.

Hari

Hari's theme song.

Few tracks feature the viola so prominently, but here, the full string section enters right from the start to command attention.

When thinking of Hari, her fierce strength usually comes to mind first,

but looking at her daily life, she spends many quiet moments gazing at the night sky after grueling training.

I imagined myself as Hari, looking up into the night sky, closing my eyes, and focusing on the sounds that reach my ears.

That is how this song was born.

Rather than spreading wide, I shaped the reverbs and effects to soar upward.

Listening to this track feels like opening up one's mind. I wanted the crystal-clear piano solo in the latter half

to sound as though it were descending from above.

I intentionally excluded all instruments other than strings and piano.

Initially, I considered using only strings, but since piano forms the base of all my compositions, it felt empty without it.

Aouko

Aouko's theme song.

From the very start, slow-tempo drums and contrabass pave the way.

I wanted to steep it in a rich noir atmosphere—did it come through?

It gives the impression that something monumental is about to begin, and thanks to this track, Hari's route opens with a much weightier presence.

Märchen

Märchen has two theme songs.

This is the first: "Judgment."

The version shared here is Version 3, featured in World 4.

After finishing it, I felt this track should serve as the main theme of Four Lights itself.

While it frequently plays when God appears, it was fundamentally composed as Märchen's theme.

I have so much to say about this piece.

Before I made it, the melody looped relentlessly in my head.

Sometimes I hear sounds as if someone is performing right beside me.

With this song, that sensation was at its most intense.

The rhythm of the drums.

The melody of the cello.

It rang out continuously until I finally booted up Cubase and plotted it out in MIDI.

It felt as though it were demanding never to be forgotten.

The initial version appears in Erie's route,

while the second version plays in Hari's route and was used in the main trailer PV for Four Lights.

The shared version shifts its atmosphere starting around 1:45, drawing inspiration from

the ostinato technique frequently utilized by Hans Zimmer.

Repeating and stacking notes and instruments one by one until reaching a climax,

the high frequencies merge with the orchestra and additional textures.

It was also the first time I felt compelled to introduce an electric guitar.

I believe it blended together wonderfully.

Alongside Erie's theme, this is one of my most cherished, beloved tracks.

Just as difficult as it was to make, the sense of accomplishment was equally profound.

Looking at the project, there are 111 plugin reverb tracks alone—I almost wondered if this was sensible.

Every single beat of the drum.

Playing and refining the piano parts by hand over a vast period of time.

I love all three versions.

The grandeur. The mystique. The unearthly presence.

Did it all reach you?

Märchen's second theme!

Titled "Fairy Tale Rabbit."

Perhaps the brightest and most cheerful song in Four Lights.

I aimed for a bouncy, lighthearted rhythm.

The flute cutting through mid-track is a delight to hear.

Whenever comedic or lighthearted scenes occur, this track will be there.

It may bring an immediate smile to your face.

Lucifer

The main villain's theme song.

A waltz-like piece with a gritty, viscous texture.

The reverb is dug deep, designed to entrance listeners with its hypnotic melody and tone.

There is a primary version composed in early 2023 that I'd like to revisit and polish.

I will refine it properly to suit the Demon Lord.

Rubria Fraliion

E.B.

This one also underwent extensive modifications toward the end, and I was holding onto it for a later release... so I am sharing it via link.

This is the theme song of our narrator and protagonist, E.B.

It felt complete as a piano solo, making it difficult to decide how to introduce additional instruments.

Fitting E.B.'s nature, I tried to preserve a gentle yet unwavering core.

While heard less frequently toward the late game, it will return at unexpected moments.

There are others, including Crina Pantom's and Su Claymore's themes, but I should probably wrap it up here.

This post turned out quite long!

Music might not always be seen as paramount in visual novels.

Often, one of the first things players do in a game is turn down the BGM.

Frequently, music serves merely as ambient background texture.

Yet, across the works that left a mark on me, even if not every track was flawless, what lingered longest in my mind was almost always the music.

My talent has always leaned more toward music than illustration as well.

As the creator who understands and loves the world of Four Lights most deeply,

I felt I was the only one who could truly give voice to the music emerging from it.

To those playing, or those who have already completed the journey: was there a track that stayed with you?

I also find myself wondering what music professionals would think of my tracks.

As mentioned earlier, because these OSTs were mastered specifically for in-game balance—cutting mid-frequencies or pulling back volume so as not to overpower the voice acting—

they haven't yet unleashed their full musical dynamic.

It was a necessary compromise to maintain overall balance.

Once proper funds are secured, re-mastering these tracks is one of my highest priorities.

After polishing them into a proper album format, I hope to share them right here on the Four Lights Steam store page.

Over 40 tracks have breathed life and depth into this universe.

Precious compositions designed to accompany your ears across an epic 15 to 30-hour journey.

Every single one was crafted with profound dedication.

I hope that sincerity reaches you.

Next week, I will see you with our final Scenario edition.

* This devlog was translated using Gemini.