The howling, frigid winds of the snowy peaks tossed Emma Frost's golden hair.
Emma wore a white one-piece outfit. Though she looked graceful and exquisitely beautiful, she seemed so delicate and frail against the Himalayan winds and frost.
By comparison, the Red Devil, Azazel, wore a black fur coat, along with a fur hat and leather gloves.
Emma seemed completely unbothered by the bitter cold.
Her fair, tender skin, which seemed to glimmer with a crystalline sheen, looked perfectly at home atop the snow-covered peak. She was like an ice queen ruling over the land.
Azazel brought Emma and a huge wooden crate, about the size of a shipping container, and teleported to the gate of this ancient temple, built of wood and stone.
Wrapped up so tightly that only his bright red cheeks showed, he shivered as he said,
"This is it. Kamar-Taj."
James took the initiative and poured another half-cup of tea for the Ancient One. As the old Chinese saying went, "Fill the wine to the brim, but pour only a little tea."
They sat facing each other in the same side hall with its open courtyard, drinking hot tea. This time, James had flown all over the snowy peaks to find a pure spring with water much like that of Holy Water Peak.
But there was no geothermal heat, so he had used Bone Blade to cut out a block of ice and bring it back.
The Sorcerer Supreme sipped her freshly brewed tea, made with familiar water, and gave an almost imperceptible nod. Her white-gold hair fell evenly down her back, perfectly in place.
"Ancient One, did you ever consider really sealing me away for good that day?"
James gave her a rare, sly smile, speaking casually and teasingly.
Ever since he had broken through