The Azure Mirage
A fantasy novel by Star Prichard
How far would you go to escape recover your past?
The timid amnesiac Lapis is desperate to remember who she was. Hoping that her music will help fill the gaps in her memory, she aims to perform as a bard- though a severe case of stage fright has stopped her plan in its tracks. When the flamboyant bard Zephyr arrives in town, glowing with a light that only she can see, she takes an apprenticeship under him to try and conquer her fears. Little does she know, unlocking her missing memories might bring even more trouble to her doorstep...Meanwhile...Laz, an assassin in service to the powerful Lady Vastra, is desperate to escape their master's clutches after a job goes horribly wrong. When an unusual encounter acquaints them with the extroverted barista Leon, the two plot an escape plan to break them free of Vastra's control- and avoid them both getting killed in the process.
The novel is currently a work in progress, and chapters will be posted on Tapas.io and Patreon as they're completed.(Patreon reads a few chapters ahead of Tapas.io)
The Azure Mirage
Characters
Lapis
A skittish bard with performance anxiety. Stricken with amnesia, she can't remember anything prior to "waking up" in an unfamiliar city about 6 months ago. Thinking she must have been a bard, because of her skill with the harp, she tries to perform in hopes that someone in the audience will recognize her- but is unfortunately cursed with crippling stage fright.Determined to push past her fears and discover who she was, she enlists the help of Zephyr- a famous and charismatic bard- to help her overcome her stage fright and conquer the stage. But as she slowly begins digging into her past, the less sure she is that she's going to like what she finds...
Zephyr
Self-proclaimed "wayward prince of the wandering breeze", a gifted and popular bard known for his flashy performances.Underneath the veneer of confidence and charisma, however, is a man who has faked every ounce of appeal he has. His performances are all done via illusion magic, and he performs only for the sake of gathering more fame.
Storm
A sardonic and enigmatic shapeshifter with an unkempt look and a shady disposition. He takes on the appearance and personality of his on-stage alter ego Zephyr to perform as a bard for some ulterior motive.Aside from this, he has no interest in performing, and sees it only as a means to an end.
Laz
A high-ranking assassin serving under Lady Vastra, desperate to break free of her master after a job gone horribly wrong. Quiet, intense, highly observant and very suspicious of anything and everything, they are often taken off guard by genuine acts of kindness.Has an unrequieted crush on Felix.
Leon
An eccentric, social, coffee-loving conversationalist. Owner of a small cafe and knows the names of every customer by heart. Skilled with magic and tinkers with magic inventions in his free time. Laz's close friend and confidant.
Felix
A giddy and joyful bard serving as one of Lady Vastra's agents. Loves all things shiny and gold. Has taken a special interest in Laz, and is teaching them the harp between missions.