WARNING: The following contains spoilers for X-Factor #10 by Leah Williams, David Baldeon, David Messina, Lucas Weneck, Israel Silva & VC's Joe Caramagna, on sale now.

The Hellfire Gala has concluded, and in the process, a major crime has been committed -- with the Scarlet Witch seemingly dead by Magneto's hands. There's always the possibility this is a fake-out or even a ruse by someone like Mystique, but it's seemingly true enough to force the upcoming Trial of Magneto -- which is posed to become a defining moment for the future of Krakoa. Here are some of the possible motives that Magneto could have had for wanting to kill the Scarlet Witch.

RELATED: X-Men: One Hellfire Gala Death Sparks A VERY Big Problem

TO PREVENT ANOTHER MISTAKE

Scarlet Witch Empyre

Scarlet Witch has a very complicated relationship with the mutant population. She depowered the majority of them in the aftermath of House of M, she confronted the X-Men in Avengers vs. X-Men and she even accidentally raised an army of undead mutants during the course of Empyre in an attempt to make amends for her previous actions. While this information has remained hidden from the majority of the mutant population, Wanda could have revealed as much to Magneto. This in turn could have prompted Magneto, fearing her sheer power, to decide to take matters into his own hand and kill the potential reality-warping figure before she can do even more damage to the mutant population.

TO TAKE REVENGE AGAINST HER

no more mutants scarlet witch

Another reason the Master of Magnetism could have turned against Scarlet Witch could have also been because he discovered the truth of Wanda's actions during Empyre. Having barely survived the slaughter of Genosha that killed sixteen million mutants, Magneto could have been enraged at the discovery of Wanda's attempts to resurrect them on her own, resulting in the X-Men having to face off not just with the Cotatti forces on Genosha but also stand against their resurrected mutant-kin. Magneto could have secretly used his connection to Wanda to lure her to Krakoa under the guise of making amends -- and if so, then their emotional reunion in S.W.O.R.D. #6 might have been just part of a ruse to finally enact revenge against the woman most of Krakoa has come to see as an ever-present threat.

RELATED: X-Men: Who's Who In The House Of X Sequel Teaser

TO GO INTO EXILE

Sabretooth is dragged into The Pit in Marvel's House of X

There's also the possibility that Wanda's death was less about taking specific revenge against Scarlet Witch and more about what the fallout could be. One of the possible aftermaths of the Trial of Magneto could be that, if found guilty of killing a human woman, Magneto would have broken one of the chief laws of Krakoa. In doing so, he'd suffer their worst punishment: "exile," i.e. being trapped within the heart of Krakoa until such time that the Quiet Council deems it's time for a potential redemption. If someone like Moira X warned Magneto to take shelter and remove himself from the board for a time -- possibly predicted by whatever she's found in Destiny's diaries -- then being exiled along the likes of Sabretooth might be the perfect means of avoiding the world.

TO PROVE SHE'S A MUTANT

X-Factor The Five

Magneto may have even committed the crime not out of actual malice or hate, but to potentially try and prove that Wanda Maximoff is indeed a mutant. During the time when she believed herself to be the daughter of Magneto, it was casually accepted that she was a mutant. But retcons have made it so that she and her twin brother Quicksilver are actually enhanced humans. However, if Scarlet Witch were to die and then be reborn through the actions of the Five, then it could be the ultimate proof that Wanda Maximoff is indeed a mutant -- and as such, could be restored while Magneto would be excused from the severe potential punishment of killing a human.

KEEP READING: How The X-Men's Grand Plan Mimics Doctor Manhattan's Signature Move