At dusk, Manhattan, New York—outside 177 Blake Street.
"Mrs. Howlett, I've wanted to visit this place for a long time."
Professor Charles Xavier and Emma Howlett stood together at the entrance to the New York Sanctum Sanctorum. Its brass doors boomed open, and two young sorcerers lowered their heads in greeting before ushering them inside.
"I understand, Professor. This place is suffused with pure psychic and spiritual power, yet it is vastly different from ours. When I first learned about the mystic sorcerers from James, I was especially curious as well."
Emma's long, wavy golden hair cascaded over her shoulders. She wore a dark teal full-body combat suit, with the vital areas of her chest, abdomen, and back protected by fitted Vibranium armor that did not impede her movement in the slightest.
Even Professor Charles had, unusually, been asked to wear the same style of combat gear today, though as far as he knew, the two of them were only there to provide psychic and spiritual support. They would not actually be entering the "battlefield."
Wearing combat gear for the first time, Charles carefully surveyed the Sanctum Sanctorum's main hall. He was filled with curiosity toward the strange instruments arranged throughout the room and the mysterious symbols and patterns painted on its walls. With a sigh, he said:
"The complexity and vastness of psychic power are simply too elusive. Take that little girl, Jean Grey—her mental power can manifest as telekinesis and affect reality, while her body also contains tangible, immense energy. Her abilities span both the energy-based and mystical mutant fields. What extraordinary talent!"
At Emma's invitation, Charles had also examined Jean. He had suggested placing suitable mental seals on her, so that she could more easily learn to control her power, but Emma had not accepted the proposal.