Erik stared at the floor, his mind shutting down. His mother was dead; his father just went to her.
Around him, friends bowed their heads in shared grief. Their presence offered little comfort—no solace could fill the hole now torn in Erik's soul.
<I don't understand…>
A hand squeezed his shoulder.
<I hated him for years. But why? Why can't I hate now? It would be so simple...>
Through the haze of grief, Erik caught sight of June's mournful expression.
His clone shared Erik's sense of loss, having experienced Lucius' love through Erik's memories.
"Master…" June's voice was heavy with sorrow, while his eyes were filled with pain.
Erik glanced up at June, his clone's face crumpling with grief.
June's usually mischievous eyes were dull and filled with tears, his lips pressed together to contain his emotions.