Chapter twenty five:

Joel, Burnie, Geoff, Jack, Gavin, and Michael are checking out the library with help from others who know the library better as well have better level of access in it.

Ryan is sitting beside the metal table that Ray's body is laying on. He closes his eyes trying to see if he can feel Rays spirit here with him. He feels like a flame of warmth inside of himself and it gives him a rather small smile. "No matter what happens you will always be a part of me." He whispers to himself. He glances up as after a few moments a cup of water is offered to him. He already had a glass of water though he has a feeling that this gesture means more than hydration. He looks to the one offering him the other cup of water. He sees a male witch servant with messy ginger hair, light brown eyes, tanned skin, and a light green ribbon on his hat. He takes the water offered and the other sits down next to him. He is glad that the other does give him some personal space respectably.

"If they can't save your witch-" He is interrupted by Ryan who slightly glares at him.

"They will save him!"

The servant smiles softly with sympathy. "Okay. Well I know it'll be hard just lets look at if they can't." He tells Ryan who looks away. "I lost my witch when I was a young adult." He admits with his voice full of sympathy for Ryan as well as understanding of the situation. "I lost my witch to suicide. I got so caught up in remaining popular that I didn't pay close enough attention to see the pain she was hiding. How it all was negatively affecting her. Until it was too late." He sighs softly closing his eyes as he sighs then opens them afterwards. "It took me a long time to get over it. I blamed myself for what had happened to my witch. I stopped caring about popularity like I should have in the first place. It took a bit though I did get my life together. I knew that when I would dream that she'd be there so I can know that when I die it'll be okay because we'll be reunited."

Ryan lets out a hefty breath and glances up at the top of the table where Ray is. "How… How did you do it… Get past the pain… The regret… Wishing that you had been stronger… That you could have stopped it?" He inquires to the other who turns to look straight ahead.

"I remembered that my witch would always be with me. In my heart and soul." The servant answers Ryan's inquiry. "Even though I missed the agony my witch was in I still knew her well. I knew she wouldn't want me to waste the rest of my life away. She'd want me to be happy. She always did. No matter what it cost her in the end. So I set out to find my purpose. Letting my instincts lead me to where I needed to be. I came to the castle leaving my school behind, and explained my situation. They offered me a job here and as I looked around it felt right. I knew I was where I needed to be. I never forgot my witch. Though I try to put everything I can into my job. To make her proud so when I see her in the afterlife I'll know I've truly done good for her." He lightly shakes his head and runs his fingers through his hair. He is smiling. "Witch or no witch. I know that you'll do the best that you can. To make your witch proud."

"I will." Ryan voiced his agreement. He will do whatever it takes to make Ray proud of him. He does still hold on to his beliefs that there has to be a way to save Ray. He just knows that no matter what happens making Ray proud is something he needs to do. He closes his eyes taking in the feeling of his witch's presence once more. He holds onto it and holds it close. Swearing to himself that he will never let it go.

The servant gets up. "I should be heading back to work. If you need anything you can call for anyone. If you need me feel free to ask for me by name. My name is Christopher."

Ryan makes a sound of understanding. "Thank you Christopher." He then lets the other head off to go back to work. He clutches the glass of water though not hard enough to break it. He will have his partner back. He will. He just has to believe that he will. He won't let Ray leave him so easily. He knows that they need each other so much. He is still willing to do his best if Ray can't be saved though.

Back in the library...

Gavin is sitting in a chair flipping through a book, as he was told to sit after getting his wounds patched up. His eyes scan the sheets of yellowed aged paper. He is careful every time he flips the page. He is trying to do it quickly by searching for anything that'll mention something useful. He is aware that they don't have forever to look. His eyes soon land upon a slightly torn page. He sees a drawing for a life draining spell. He looks along it searching for any sign of a possible way to reverse it. He finds it mention an old scroll. He also spots the notes added to the book in old ink saying that the scroll will remain sealed unless it is held by the destined partner. He also reads that it'll only unlock if the draining spell was used, and of course that the partner is holding it. "Guys!" He calls out and the others pause to look at him. "Does anyone know where the scroll of angels is?"

"Oh! I do!" A slightly older woman dashes off deeper into the library.

"What'd you find?" Michael comes over to Gavin to check it out. His hand placed on the table by the book and he looks over the pages that are showing. He reads it out loud after checking it out and the others brighten more with hope.

"We might still need to keep searching." Gavin admits slightly shifting nervously in his chair. "If this ends up not being right then we'll have to see about if there's anything else we can do." He knows that none of them actually know what the scroll of angels will tell them that they need to do.

So none of them know if they'll be able to do what is asked of them.

The others keep looking for a back up plan while Gavin and Michael wait for the lady.

Michael pulls up a chair settling to sit down next to Gavin. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay." Gavin gives his partner a smile. "Just a little worried about Ryan. I don't even want to think about if we can't bring back our best friend, and his partner." Especially since they haven't been partners for too long, though he doesn't need to add that as Michael knows it's meant to be added. He feels his hair being stroked by familiar fingers and leans into the comforting touches closing his eyes. He knows that while Michael is the stronger emotionally of the them he still does care. He knows that the other is probably feeling the same way that he is feeling.

Even if Michael doesn't show it as much as Gavin does.

Gavin opens his eyes and looks into his partners eyes. He can see it past the mask of calm Michael has on. He reaches out and links his left hand with Michaels free hand.

The two smile softly glad that they'll have each other to help them get through this. And they both hope that Ray will be with them all too to move away from what happened.

The woman returns and hands the scroll to Gavin. "It won't open." She tells him only for Gavin to stand up.

"Gav. Be careful." Michael warns and the others turn to them.

Gavin turns to Michael holding the scroll by his chest. "We gotta get this to Ryan." He explains gesturing to said scroll by waving it slightly.

Michael looks away and moves to Ellet Gavin through. He follows his familiar making sure he's okay as he goes.

Burnie, Joel, Geoff and Jack, all follow after them letting those that joined them continue looking.

The group make it to where Ryan is who looks up when they get close. Though the rest hang back a little as Gavin and Michael get closer to Ryan.

Ryan gets up to his feet putting the now half empty glass of water to the side. "What did you find?" He questions with hope shining in eyes and ringing in the tone of his voice.

"If he was killed in a certain way you should be able to open this scroll. If you can't open it then the requirements aren't met." Gavin explains handing it to Ryan only to sit to rest.

Ryan takes the scroll and turns to look to Ray. "I really hope that this works." He whispers to himself. He tries to open the scroll feeling his heart pounding in his chest in anticipation and hope. He finds the scroll opens and he unrolls it looking it over. "It has a spell but we need some objects." He tells the others who listen in curious hope. "We need the wand that was used to cast the spell. Since it holds the link to his life that was drained from him. And we also need Rays wand." He pulls Ray's wand out of his pocket where he had hidden it. He looks to Ray's body.

"Spire might have it." Burnie heads off to go ask his majesty about it. He peeks his head inside of the throne room seeing that the king is signing a few things, as well as Lyra laying next to the throne in her familiar form resting with her wounds bandaged. He supposes that it could be Gus's death certificate, as well as the papers to bury the evil groups bodies at the location where the battle took place at. He remembers hearing the other talk about doing that, so that the bodies don't just lay there out in the open to rot. He moves further inside and the one with the papers for Spire heads off with the papers all signed. "Your majesty." He bows and the other turns to look to him. "Is it possible that you picked up Darcy's wand?" He inquires tilting his head up to glance to the other. "We think that we found a way to bring Ray back however we need that wand." He really hopes that the other had indeed picked up the wand.