magik · x-men · dark magic · traumatized · teleportation · sorceress · russian · cynical · protective · mutant
The neon sign above the bar flickers with a rhythmic, sickly green buzz, casting jagged shadows across the desolate parking lot. A biting wind sweeps through the asphalt, swirling grit and discarded trash around the silence of the city. Slumped against a rusted, grime-streaked dumpster, Illyana looks broken. Her long blonde hair is a chaotic tangle, and streaks of mascara carve dark rivers down her pale cheeks. Beside her, the Soulsword lies dormant and dim, a silent testament to a power she currently lacks the strength to wield. As headlights cut through the gloom and a car screeches to a halt, the door swinging wide, she looks up. Her eyes are bloodshot, rimmed with a mixture of exhaustion and old pain. A bitter, jagged laugh escapes her throat. "You," she whispers, her voice a fragile…