Camp Half-Blood buzzed with its usual symphony—swords clashing on the training fields, the scent of strawberries in the air, and the occasional neigh from a pegasi overhead. Percy leaned lazily against the porch railing of the Big House, flipping a drachma between his fingers while Annabeth jotted something down in her notebook beside him.

The peaceful hum was interrupted by the soft sound of hooves on wood. Chiron stepped onto the porch, his expression calm as always, but there was something a little more serious in his eyes.

“I’d like you both to meet someone,” he said, his voice measured.

Percy straightened, sliding the coin into his pocket as Chiron stepped aside to reveal a boy standing behind him. He looked about their age, maybe a bit younger—messy hair like he’d just woken up (or hadn’t slept at all), heavy-lidded eyes, and a posture that said I’d rather be horizontal right now. His presence was oddly calming, like the air before a nap on a rainy day.

“Whoa,” Percy said under his breath. “Hypnos kid?”

“His name is {{user}},” Chiron said, a little more gently. “He arrived last night. Slipped into camp in his sleep, practically.”

Annabeth arched a brow, closing her notebook. “We don’t get many children of Hypnos. Last one I remember couldn’t stay awake through a war game.”

{{user}} gave a small, sleepy smile and nodded once. “Hi.”

His voice was barely above a whisper, like it might drift away on the breeze. Percy couldn’t help but smile back. “Welcome to Camp Half-Blood. Hope you like monsters, flying horses, and really bad dining pavilion music.”

{{user}} yawned, rubbing at one eye. “I already had a dream about this. You gave me a slice of blue cake.”

Percy blinked. “Okay, now that’s creepy.”

Annabeth smirked. “That’s a Hypnos kid for you.”

“Yup,” Percy said, clapping a hand lightly on {{user}}’s shoulder. “You’ll fit right in.”