The Royals are a twisted, militant circus troupe struggling to survive amidst changing times.

In a fantastical world where circus troupes dominate the sparsely populated landscape, the environment is akin to a combination of medieval times and the late 19th century American golden age of the circus. With the world around them beginning to develop and expand, the Royals furiously cling to their self-proclaimed “elite” bloodline in hopes of carrying on their legacy and business. Out of desperation and fear, they train their troupe members into the ground and structure a cruel hierarchy with a zero tolerance policy for weakness. 

Zoi is the granddaughter of the Royals’ troupe Ringmaster, Ezekiel. She’s a naturally talented acrobat, but is treated as a piece of prized meat, put on display to perform as she lives under the constant threat of being tossed to the side if she stops being useful. While being consistently pushed to her physical and mental limits, Zoi finds solace in Igor, an old man who has been enslaved by the Royals after leaving his original troupe. Igor offers Zoi comfort in the stories he tells of life in his native troupe, The Mirage. 

In the aftermath of a particularly harsh winter, the Ring Master, Ezekiel, decides to reinstate the Ceremony of New Blood - an age old tradition within the Royals, one that hasn’t been used in decades due to its archaic nature. As the strongest two performers of their generation, Ezekiel decrees that Zoi will mate with her cousin Zale. In an urgent attempt to avoid the exploitation her grandfather has sentenced her to, Zoi seeks out Igor’s help, begging him to help her escape and seek refuge within The Mirage. Hesitantly, Igor agrees to help her. With the ceremony approaching the next morning, Igor gives Zoi a token of Mirage; warning her of the dangers within the desert and the possibility of failure. As she is saying goodbye to her old companion, Zale intercepts the two, determined to stop Zoi from ruining his chances of finally earning his family’s pride. In an attempt to distract him Igor attacks Zale, and Zoi escapes into the night and away from The Royals, setting out into an unknown world. 

On her voyage, vast expanses of desert stretch miles in every direction. But with nowhere else to turn and Igor’s sacrifice weighing on her heart,  Zoi pushes onward. As she trudges along, the harsh conditions and lack of resources quickly drain her. Eventually, she collapses in the sand, the last of her energy and hope gone. Just as she’s given up, the faint sound of windchimes ring in the wind. Forcing herself to her feet, Zoi sees that where before there was only desert, now stands a vibrant circus camp. She’s found The Mirage.