At the end of his physical life in The Magicians, Penny dies from a debilitating illness known as "super cancer," despite a desperate attempt by Julia and Kady to save him.
Penny's Tragic Demise
Penny 23, one of the central characters and a powerful Traveler, faced a prolonged and severe battle with a magical disease referred to as "super cancer." This affliction had plagued him for months, progressively weakening him.
The Desperate Attempt to Cure Him
Recognizing the dire nature of his condition, his friends, Julia Wicker and Kady Orloff-Diaz, undertook a perilous and complex ritual. They successfully managed to summon a specific type of demon known for its ability to consume and feed on cancerous growths. The clear intent was to use this powerful entity to eradicate Penny's illness and save his life.
The Unfortunate Outcome
Despite the significant magical effort and the presence of the cancer-feeding demon, the intervention proved to be tragically insufficient and too late. Penny succumbed to his illness and died while the demon was still in the process of feeding on the cancer within him. His death marked a significant and heartbreaking moment for the characters and the overall narrative of the series. While this was the end of his physical form, his journey as a Traveler continued in a different state, highlighting the complex nature of life and death in the magical world.
