Chapter --3 " The Wrong Summon".

The smoke clung to the ceiling beams like a living thing.

Elias coughed once, twice , trying to blink through the haze .The world shimmered around him -- banners in tatters , nobles shrieking behind jeweled fans ,Master Avert sputtering half an incarnation and forgetting the other half.

At the center of the devastation stood the figure. Barefoot shirt half unbuttoned. A grin that looked far too pleased with itself for someone who had just exploded into existence.

He stretched his arms lazily, like someone walking from a nap.

"Whew", he said. "Thought you would never get the spell right."

The entire court stared in horrified silence.

Avert found his voice first. " What - what is that?"

"Rude" , said the stranger. " I'm standing right here."

Elias's heartbeat tripped. He knew that voice.

He knew it -- the lilit, the teasing cadence, the familiar edge that made every word sound like a dare. But that was impossible.

He took a hesitant step forward. "....Kip?"

The man's grin widened, sharp and bright.

"Finally!" I was starting to think I'd have to send myself a formal invitation.

A noblewoman is fainted.

" Contain it", bellowed Avert ." Guards! Circle the summoning floor --"

The guards hesitated -- uncertain whether the barefoot intruder was a spirit, a man or some combination of both. Kip sighed , rolled his eyes and with an almost casual gesture , flicked his fingers.

The floor rippled like water .

Avert stumbled backward as the marble under his boots briefly turned in to polished cr. One guard slip and collided into another.A herald's scroll brust into flames shaped suspiciously like a laughing face.

"Oops", said Kip "Sorry .Bit rusty."

"Rusty"? Avert sputtered. "That's forbidden dreamcraft!"

"Dreamcraft," Kip repeated thoughtfully. Nice to see you all still giving fancy names to children's imagination.

"Guards!"

More chaos erupted --robes,shouts, glittering wards flashing like lightning.Through it all Kip stood perfectly at ease hand in his pockets, watching with mild amusement.His gaze flicked back to Elias.

"You look awful , by the way,he said conversationally. "Too much starch in your soul.I could smell it from the ether."

Elias could only gap. "You're not -- You can't be real. I made you up."

Kip grinned wider." And yet, here I am. Which make you what? A genius? Or irresponsible?"

"You're --" Elias faltered. "You're supposed to be gone."

"Yeah," Kip said softly. "That's what happens when people forget me."The word landed like a stone in a still pond -- small,but imposible to ignore. Then, as if realising the tension had gone too quiet, Kip clapped his hand together.

"Well, this has been delightful, he said brightly."But, Unless you want to watch me get dissected by Baldy M staff over there --" he nodded at Avert, who turned a disturbing shade of purple -- " we should probably leave."

"Leave?" Elias repeated,still dazed.

" Exit,flee, run dramatically into the sunset .

You pick the verb."

"I--I can't just --"

"You can and you will. Because Unless I'm mistaken --" Kip paused,cocked his head toward the ceiling and sniffed,"-- they're about to activate the binding wards."

From above, glowing runes flared to life, forming a tightening lattice of light.

Avert shouted, "Seal the creature! it's corrupting the ritual field ."

"Charming", said Kip Your people skills haven't improved. He turn back to Elias,and for the first time, his grin softened. " Come on, princeling . Trust me.

"Elias hesitated only a heartbeat longer -- then stepped forward.

The marble under their feet flicked , becoming briefly translucent ,and the two of them vanished in a burst of gold and violet light -- leaving behind a hall full of panicked nobles,one furious Archmage ,and the faint sound of laughter echoing through the smoke.

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