It's super easy to get stuck with the idea that I need to solve things exactly the same way as other media. Like, the first beginning I drew resembled the dragon isekai a lot. Then, I had trouble getting away from the idea that I need to find a pivotal childhood moment as an intro like Wanderings of Morok does.
I think such a moment doesn't work for my comic because it disagrees with my own experiences of my own development. I thought I could use a retrospective as a setup where the protagonist saw their reflection in the water and realized it's themself, but I just don't remember ever having such moments myself. My life is a gradual evolution of understanding and I can't think of a single thing where I'd be like "it was in April 12th, 2003 at 10:16 when I understood ..."
I got my own beginning now that isn't like this.
Volpeon Extra
@areon@icy.wyvern.rip