It was an abandoned nuclear plant, its surfaces mottled by the ravages of time.
Rust covered the surrounding walls, and enormous cracks had opened in places, as though telling the story of its former glory and present desolation. The lawns around the plant had long gone untended, overgrown with weeds, with the occasional hardy wildflower swaying in the wind.
Several children were playing marbles on this overgrown lawn.
Their clothes were somewhat shabby, but their eyes held the liveliness and innocence unique to children.
When a stranger approached, they stopped what they were doing. Like startled fawns, they eyed the newcomer warily, curiosity mingling with unease.
"Can I join you?"
The blond boy crouched down with a smile as radiant as sunshine, exuding an irresistible warmth.
He pulled a deck of cards from his top hat, and his fingers began to dance.
The cards fluttered with a rustle, his dazzling sleight of hand making them seem alive as they flew through the air. A card held between his fingertips one moment vanished without a trace the next.
The children were immediately captivated by this fascinating trick. Their eyes widened as they stared unblinkingly at the boy's hands, afraid to miss even a single exciting moment.
"Wow!!"
The little ringleader cried out excitedly. When he pulled the vanished card from his back pocket, gasps erupted from the group.
The other children cheered and bounced with excitement, their eyes full of admiration for the young magician.
And so, lured by the Great Magician Lyney's offer to "teach them magic tricks," the Skrull children who had been captivated by his wondrous performance followed him without a hint of suspicion. They crowded around him, chattering away, having completely forgotten the adults' warnings not to talk to strangers.
The Skrull woman who had finished making