"It's over."
Skye immediately despaired when she heard her name being called.
The other party even knew her name—it was clear that she was their target.
I just bought new clothes and cosmetics... and I was supposed to go on a date.
Frustration filled Skye.
The elegant blonde woman looked at Skye, her eyes twinkling slightly.
"Are you sure she's the one we're looking for? She doesn't seem to have any abilities at all," another blonde woman said, eyeing Skye doubtfully.
"She just hasn't awakened yet. I can feel the immense power hidden within her."
"That's good."
Magneto, Erik Lehnsherr, studied Skye with sharp eyes. He spoke calmly, his voice almost gentle:
"You should know who I am, Skye. Are you willing to join the Brotherhood?"
Though the words seemed like an invitation, his tone left little room for refusal.
Skye was smart. She sensed the underlying intent and forced herself to remain composed. Mustering her courage, she spoke decisively:
"Maybe you're mistaken. I'm not a mutant. I've never shown any unusual abilities since I was a child."
"Are you doubting my abilities?"
The refined blonde woman—her aura commanding—arched an eyebrow, her expression unreadable.
"But I trust my own memories and experiences," Skye said firmly, though fear lingered beneath her words.
"You know about mutants, but you may not realize that many abilities don't manifest from birth. They're often triggered by specific events, emotions, or circumstances."
Magneto's voice remained patient as he explained.
"There are many mutants like that, and you are one of them."
"Skye, human society despises and fears mutants. You must be aware that once your abilities awaken and are discovered, you'll be met with hatred. You may even be hunted down by the military, captured, dissected, and experimented on."
The other blonde woman picked up where Erik left off, her tone carrying a raw emotion.
"Believe me, over the decades, I've witnessed too many mutant tragedies. We are your kind. We do not persecute our own."
"Joining us is the right choice."
Skye hesitated, caught off guard by their words.
Why would I be a mutant?
Her mind drifted to Leon.
If she truly awakened her abilities—if she was indeed a mutant—and Leon found out... would he hate her, just like they said?
Seeing Skye lost in thought, Magneto frowned. But he was patient when it came to his own kind—especially one with great potential.
The elegant blonde woman spoke again.
She seemed to peer into Skye's thoughts, her voice carrying an air of knowing:
"Believe me, there are few people in this world who can truly accept mutants. Forget about that little man of yours."
"He—"
She had used her psychic abilities to probe deep into Skye's memories.
And there, she saw him.
A boy Skye secretly liked.
It was outside a café in New York. The young man across from Skye was handsome, gentle, and patient as he spoke with her.
When the woman saw his face clearly, her pupils shrank.
Her expression twisted into something dark.
"Damn it..."
"White Queen, what did you see?"
Magneto, Mystique, and Sabretooth all noticed the shift in her demeanor.
Magneto turned toward her, eyes narrowing.
But instead of answering, Emma Frost's face remained grim.
"We have to leave."
"Why?" Magneto frowned.
Their relationship was purely cooperative, and her sudden insistence on retreating didn't sit well with him.
But Emma offered no explanation.
No one else questioned her, either—because their attention was now drawn behind Skye.
The girl, still lost in confusion, noticed their reactions and instinctively turned to see what had caught their eyes.
And then—
A familiar voice cut through the air.
"I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint Mr. Erik and Ms. Emma today."
"Leon?"
Skye's heart leaped. She turned swiftly, her eyes landing on a familiar figure—Li Ang.
Relief washed over her, and without thinking, she ran to him, instinctively seeking shelter behind him.
A sense of security enveloped her.
"Leon~~" Skye peeked from behind him, her voice laced with grievance.
"Don't worry."
Leon gently stroked her hair, his touch reassuring.
Skye secretly smiled to herself and obediently nodded, not saying another word.
"Mr. Leon~~ I didn't expect to meet you here."
Magneto's gaze grew solemn.
Leon may have been unknown in ordinary circles, but among mutants—Magneto, Mystique, and Emma all knew what that name meant.
Mutants knew that Professor Xavier would never lie.
Especially when he had once warned Magneto, in an unusually grave tone, Do not provoke Leon.
Now, standing before him, Magneto realized that Charles had not exaggerated.
Leon merely stood there, and yet Magneto felt it—a crushing presence. An unseen force pressing upon him like a tidal wave, suffocating in its intensity.
Even Sabretooth, normally wild and unruly, was as docile as a kitten, holding his breath in fear of drawing Leon's attention.
"Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Erik," Leon said calmly. "But I believe Skye's life should be her own to decide."
He paused mid-sentence, his gaze shifting toward the White Queen.