In the mist of a floating hot spring retreat, one apprentice learns that true creation begins with courage and the quiet magic of being seen.
High in the mountains, the floating hot spring retreat drifts among steam and lantern light. Apprentices rise with dawn to gather herbs for enchanted soaks: lavender for calm, rosemary for clarity, calendula for courage. The work is steady, soothing, and safe.
For seventeen-year-old Aster, safety has always been enough. As a crafter’s apprentice, they follow every recipe exactly, hoping precision will earn belonging. But their blends keep faltering, and each failure deepens the quiet ache that something within them refuses to stay small.
Then Neroli, a traveling perfumer visiting for the Lantern Night Festival, notices the spark in Aster’s work that no one else seems to see. Through shared laughter, late-night conversations, and the shimmer of lanterns reflected on water, Aster begins to wonder if creation—and connection—might be worth the risk of imperfection.
As festival lights bloom across the mist, Aster must decide what it means to craft something truly their own and to let someone else glimpse the heart behind it.
Mint and Mist is a tender, cozy fantasy of steam, scent, and self-discovery. A story about finding belonging, daring to create, and the quiet, hopeful courage of being seen.