Kaiser and Cricket approached the old house with heavy steps, the air around them thick with exhaustion and sorrow. As they pushed open the creaking door, a heart-wrenching sight awaited them.
Bjorn was on his knees, his massive frame trembling as he leaned against Henry's lifeless body. His fingers clutched the bloodstained fabric of his fallen friend's shirt, his head bowed, silent tears streaming down his face. Espada sat near the window, his hands gripping his arms as he stared blankly at the wooden floor. The pain was etched into his very being, an agony too deep for words.
Elric was the first to move. He placed a firm yet comforting hand on Kaiser's shoulder, his expression filled with quiet concern. Before Kaiser could even process it, Mariposa ran to him, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso. She sobbed into his chest, her frail body shaking as if she would collapse under the weight of her grief.
Elric's voice was calm yet heavy. "Kaiser… Henry is gone."
