Bit by bit, the sun retreated like autumn's first yellow leaf falling, like an infant's first white tooth emerging.
People tried to grasp the moment of its arrival and passing, yet the instant of change seemed to deliberately wait for the gap when you blinked in weariness or drifted off in sudden distraction.
Abandoned by time and human memory for over a century, the ruined statue of the Virgin barely retained one tearful eye. The last fleeting patch of dusky yellow light had vanished without a trace, yet the dilapidated church within the ruins of San Venganza had not been swallowed by darkness.
Layers of scattered, overlapping glass mirror images formed an enormous coffin. Within it, tongues of fire erupted in bursts, while intricate, exquisite cocoons of light replaced the daylight's radiance, continuing to illuminate the furtive remnants of the church.
The mirror-image planes formed by magical power were flawless, each one pieced together to reflect James Howlett's resolute, imposing face.
His expression gradually calmed. If not for the two blazing fireballs still burning brilliantly in his eyes, Emma would have thought her husband was merely asleep.
"Master Ancient One, James... Is there really nothing we can do?"
Emma Howlett, Ancient One, and Professor Charles, who held a dark cyan simplified Cerebro Helmet in his arms, sat together before the Mystic Arts sealing array suspended in midair within the church.
Seeing that James's expression had finally ceased its nightmare-like shifts and struggles, Emma's tightly knotted heart did not relax in the slightest.
"...Mrs. Howlett, you and Mr. Xavier have both attempted to enter his mind with psychic power, but even working together, you could not gain entry. Moreover, the flames of judgment leaking from the Spirit of Vengeance and the demon lord Zarathos would burn your souls."
The Sorcerer Supreme's