This is an adventure of Muir and Sylvan.
Centred around the theme of accepting and loving oneself, I created a series of illustrations and gave names to the two protagonists who symbolise different aspects of the self: the inner self is represented by the little cat-lamb named Sylvan, meaning forest, while the outer self is represented by a red-haired girl named Muir, meaning ocean. Through natural imagery, I aim to place the experience of self-embrace in an environment that brings me peace.
The story can be summarised as follows:
Muir and Sylvan have been together since childhood, and Muir wishes to protect Sylvan from the outside world. However, as she grows up, she cannot ignore external judgment and scrutiny and finds herself constantly wearing masks to please others. In this process, Sylvan—her inner self—gradually becomes transparent, even disappearing. This prompts Muir to embark on a journey to find Sylvan.
Along the way, Muir learns to embrace and accept herself, slowly shedding the masks that exhaust her, and begins to face the world as her authentic self. In the end, she reunites with Sylvan, who, as a symbol of her inner self, is willing to return to her side after she has rediscovered herself beyond the pressure of external expectations.
The title Almond is inspired by the amygdala, the part of the brain associated with processing fear and negative emotions. At both the beginning and the end of the story, Muir and Sylvan are tightly embraced within the symbolic form of the almond, completing a journey of self-discovery, self-understanding, and self-love.