Dawn rose over the horizon, tinting the sky faintly white. Warm sunlight blanketed all of Westchester, the suburban county north of New York. It bordered Connecticut and Long Island to the east, reached Putnam County to the north, and faced the Hudson River to the west. Known for its prosperous economy, it was also a renowned center of education.
Outsiders who knew nothing of it would never have guessed that the retro castle standing in the suburbs of Westchester was actually a special school devoted to taking in Mutants. Privately funded by Professor Charles, it admitted Mutant children free of charge, teaching them how to control their abilities while spreading the ideal of peaceful coexistence with humanity.
Jean pushed the old man in his wheelchair through the sprawling school grounds. Bright sunlight pierced the clouds and spilled across the lawns and shaded paths. In the open field set aside for free activities, many children exercised under their teachers' guidance. Beyond the pleasant gravel lake stood a small boathouse, though anyone who ventured deeper would discover there was much more to it.
It was an underground bunker built specifically during World War II. After Professor Charles's extensive modifications, it became a training ground for the younger generation of Mutants, used for combat practice and battle drills. The first generation of X-Men had gradually grown there. Back then, he and his friend Erik had not yet gone their separate ways. They had explored their abilities together, spoken of their hopes for the future, and fought side by side against evil conspirators bent on destroying the world.
After passing the breezy gravel lake, Jean pushed the professor beneath the shade of a large tree. When she had still been a student, she often sat there reading Jane Austen novels.
Seated in his wheelchair,