When discussing ancient Eastern philosophy, one could never avoid the words "yin and yang."
The secluded meditation room deep inside Wolf Nest Base had originally been built by James for himself.
An S-shaped curve divided the circular room in two, separating the "yin" and "yang."
Professor Charles Xavier and Mrs. Emma Howlett sat facing each other from afar, each positioned precisely over the "eye" of the yin-yang fish beneath them.
Between them, a candle flame no larger than a fava bean flickered.
A point of candlelight appeared in Emma's mindscape, too. As she watched, she couldn't tell whether the tiny flame was expanding at incredible speed or she herself was shrinking to an infinitesimal size.
In an instant, the flame "swallowed" the White Queen's mind.
"This is the Xavier family's ancestral home in Westchester, not far from the Superhuman Academy."
Yellow light filled the entire range of Emma's psychic senses. In a moment, birdsong and the rustling of a breeze through old oak trees flowed into her ears.
As the light faded from her eyes, a grand mansion stood before her, built in the architectural style favored by the new aristocracy of the last century.
Professor Charles wore a beige casual jacket. He walked over to Emma with his hands in his pockets and explained.
"You've gone further than I have in the realm of pure psychic power. This place isn't merely a simulated mental image."
Emma rubbed her palms and fingertips, then took a deep breath. The rich scent of soil and plants filled the air. She followed Professor Charles as he pushed open the dark wooden gate and entered the old mansion, whose living-room walls had been replaced with rows of bookshelves.
It wasn't difficult to deceive an ordinary person in the mental realm, making them feel as