Joseph remained in the principal's office for over two hours.
When he finally stepped out, the sun had shifted, casting long shadows across the Xavier Academy grounds. He headed straight to the school's large outdoor playground, hands in his pockets, expression calm.
"Pass the ball!"
"Hey, no powers—no cheating!"
"Come on, you totally phased through me!"
A group of younger students were playing basketball, shouting and laughing as they tried to enforce the "no powers" rule—usually with little success.
Not far off, a few senior students stood in a circle, openly discussing their powers, comparing battle experiences, and sometimes arguing about theoretical combinations.
On benches beneath the tree-lined perimeter, students relaxed—some reading books, some enjoying each other's company a little too enthusiastically.
From Joseph's perspective, the whole scene radiated peacefulness.
Yes, Xavier's School truly was a haven for mutants. A place where children burdened with dangerous gifts could find safety, community, even hope.
But paradise didn't last forever.
"This peace won't hold," Joseph murmured to himself. "Not when so few realize the storm that's coming."
His gaze drifted toward two familiar figures sitting beneath a tree, heads bowed over their books.
"Katie. Jubilee. Time to pack up," he called out.
The two girls looked up at the sound of his voice.
One was Katherine Pryde, known as Shadowcat. With short brown hair and a sharp gaze, she had the power to phase through solid matter.
The other was Jubilation Lee, or Jubilee, a mutant of Chinese-American descent. Her mutation allowed her to generate explosive energy orbs—what she often jokingly referred to as "fireworks."
Both were close friends of Joseph. In fact, they were his only real friends during his years at the academy.
When Joseph had first arrived, he'd bonded with Jubilee almost immediately due to their shared heritage and outsider status. Orphaned after the tragic deaths of her highly educated immigrant parents, Jubilee had grown up understanding hardship and the necessity of self-reliance. While many teens in the academy rebelled and slacked off, Jubilee buried herself in studies.
Under Joseph's influence, and with occasional boosts from his memory-enhancing magic, she had flourished. Not only had she mastered her mutant abilities, but she had also developed considerable expertise in mechanical engineering and AI systems.
Katie, on the other hand, was a prodigy from the start. Gifted in programming, languages, and combat theory, her growth had skyrocketed under Joseph's mentorship. With his magical support, her natural talents had bloomed into something extraordinary.
Together, the three of them had built Oasis—from theory to prototype.
"Joseph!" Katie was already on her feet, eyes sparkling. "Are we finally leaving the academy?"
Jubilee hurried after her, curiosity lighting up her expression. "Did Professor Xavier agree? How much did he give you?"
Joseph shrugged, his tone casual: "Not much. Just a hundred million."
The two girls froze in their tracks.
"A hundred… million?" Jubilee stammered.
"Dollars?!" Katie blinked like she'd misheard.
Joseph chuckled. "It's not as bold as it sounds. The professor is still cautious. He wants to see results first. Think of it as a trial run."
The girls looked like they'd just been told they won the lottery.
"How many people get a nine-digit start-up fund before they've even graduated?" Katie muttered.
"Don't keep your mouths open like that," Joseph teased. "You'll catch flies."
Still grinning, he glanced at the two of them again—and paused.
They'd grown. Not just as people or as professionals, but physically too. Though neither fit the stereotype of classic beauty, they both exuded a quiet confidence. Fit from daily training, sharp from intellectual growth—strong, competent women.
Joseph shook his head lightly and refocused.
"Pack your bags. Recruitment is finished. We're leaving soon."
"Recruitment?" Katie echoed. "You mean just the three of us?"
Jubilee's eyes narrowed slightly. "Wait… you recruited others from the academy? Charles agreed to that?"
Joseph nodded. "There are hundreds of students here. Do you really think we'll build a future with only three people?"
In truth, the movie versions of Xavier's School gave a narrow picture. But the real Xavier Academy was vast—dozens of junior students, and over thirty upperclassmen between the ages of 16 and 22. Professor X had been saving, training, and recruiting mutants for decades. A school that large, spanning multiple continents and rescue missions, wasn't built for just a classroom-sized cast.
Katie opened her mouth to respond—when a voice echoed directly in her mind.
"All students above the age of 18, please report to the main courtyard within five minutes. Mr. Joseph will be conducting a special selection and recruitment."
It was Charles Xavier's voice.
But the way he said "Mr. Joseph"…
Every student in the school heard it. And every one of them felt the shift in tone.
"Did he just call him Mister Joseph?" someone whispered.
"Was that a mistake?"
"Why did it sound so... respectful?"
"Wait, Joseph's recruiting for something?"
Within moments, a wave of murmurs swept across campus.
A few older students strolled across the grass toward the playground, looking curious. One of them, tall and smug, smirked as he caught sight of Joseph and his friends.
"Well, well," he called out. "Look who caught the principal's eye. Our little library monk finally got noticed?"
The others snickered.
"Must've spent two days straight reading in Charles' office," another joked.
More laughter.
"Idiot," Katie muttered under her breath.
"Typical John," Jubilee growled.
The ringleader of the mockery was John Allerdyce, better known as Pyro. An alpha-level mutant with the power to control fire—though not create it—John was tall, cocky, and every bit the classic high school antagonist.
While not as powerful as Omega-level mutants like Jean Grey or Iceman, John's ability was more refined and battle-tested. His skill level had reached third-tier combat status, outclassing even some seasoned X-Men like Wolverine or Storm at their earlier stages.
Unsurprisingly, John had a superiority complex.
As far as he was concerned, Joseph was just a bookworm. A delta-level mutant. A nobody.
Joseph didn't even glance in his direction.
"John," he said without looking up, "my time is valuable. Don't waste yours trying to annoy me."
That wiped the smirk off John's face.
Mutants were now pouring into the courtyard from all directions, following Xavier's call.
The time had come.
Joseph's vision was unfolding. And the whole academy would soon bear witness.