Luna had ma Harry and her away from the camp of demigods before christmas hit. An by dragged them away they were clear across the uates.

  The euation was weird, not that Daphne minded much, whenever people said merry Christmas she struggled not to flinch. Luna had approached Harry whispering something in her Boyfriends ear befrabbing her arm hink you khey were standing infront of charon the ferryman.

  The guy himself looked pletely unamused as Luna cheered and hugged Harry.

  “You’re aware,” Charon began, his voice dry as sandpaper, “that I’m ly in the business of holiday travel, right?”

  Luna, utterly unfazed by his tone, grinned brightly. “Oh, e on! It’s Yule! And it’s not like we’re asking for a freebie. I’ve got plenty of s if you are that upset.”

  “I wouldn’t dare try an charge you in fear of angering the Master of Thanatos, but do please leave.” Charon states pointing towards the exit.

  “Do you have any iing news?” Luna asks towards the unamused ferryman

  “Stanford is celebrating Yule tied this year.” Charon states.

  Luna’s eyes lit up at the mention of Stanford. "Stanford? The uy? They're celebrating Yule?" she asked, her voice brimming with curiosity.

  Charon, still as unamused as ever, gave a slow, deliberate nod. “Indeed. Apparently, some overzealous students decided that deg out the campus in solstice decor and ting in Old Norse would be festive. As if the gods would find their poorly pronounced intations charming.”

  Harry, standing beside Luna with his hands stuffed in his pockets, stifled a chuckle. “Sounds like a recipe for disaster.”

  “I agree with Harry,” Daphters

  Charon’s glowing eyes fixed on him. “You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But no, they’re surprisingly ear. I ’t say the same for the couple of actual Norse spirits who have shown up to critique their grammar.”

  Daphne crossed her arms, giving Charon a skeptical look. “So, you’re saying a bunch of Stanford students actally summoned Norse spirits?”

  Charon sighed, as if the mere act of expining was draining his eternal patience. “No. They didn’t summon ahose spirits are merely nosy. They happeo pass by and couldn’t resist mog the attempt. Happens more often than you’d think. Still, it’s made food eai.”

  Luna csped her hands together, her grin widening. “Well, that settles it! We’re going to Stanford.”

  Harry blinked, staring at Luna as though she’d just suggested they move to Mars. “Wait, what? Why are we going to Stanford? To wate Yule-themed edy of errors?”

  Daphne groaned, ping the bridge of her nose. “Luna, I don’t think crashing a uy’s holiday event is what anyone had in mind for Yule celebrations.”

  Luna spun to face them, her grin as wide as ever. “Oh, e on! It’s Yule! It’s not every day you get to see mortals trying to rekindle araditions. And who knows? Maybe they’re onto something fun.”

  =======================

  An now they were at stanford.

  The uy’s sprawling campus was draped in an eclectic mix of holiday cheer and what could only be described as amateur attempts at invoking a Yule traditions. Wreaths of evergreen adorhe entrao buildings, and strings of white lights cast a warm glow over courtyards. In the ter of it all, a rge bonfire crackled in defiance of California's chill, surrounded by students dressed ihing from festive sweaters to faux Viking garb.

  Harry squi the se, his breath visible in the cool air. “This is… something,” he remarked, tilting his head as he watched a group of students attempt to perform a clumsy reenat of some ual, plete with ting and exaggerated swordpy.

  Luna cpped her hands in delight, her eyes sparkling. “This is amazing! Look at them trying so hard—it’s adorable.”

  Daphne raised an eyebrow, folding her arms as she surveyed the se. “Adorable isn’t the word I’d use. They look like they’re one misstep away from summoning something they ’t handle.”

  As if on cue, one of the ting students tripped over their faux fur cloak, nearly toppling into the bohe others quickly caught them, muttering reassurances before drunkenly resuming their ritual.

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