Yes, that's a visual glitch that has been there pretty much since the beginning. I suspect that there are some conflicting animations and that's why the character ends up in a wrong spot. It is just visual though and actually it is standing on the starter tile and everything should work just fine and next move you make will fix the situation back to normal.
Hmm, gotta investigate the starting tile having gem effects a bit more thoroughly.... 🤔
Oh I think I misread that last point as a single and not to different instances. The starting tile can be gemmed with some effect and it will remain there for other levels too. And I think the no starting tile at all must have been that all tiles were returned to your hand (with a potion or boss) and then some effect permanently removed that tile from your deck. I probably shouldn't allow that tile to be permanently removed :D
This is fine... :)