"I'll do it," Syri volunteered as a result of overhearing the alpha and beta's conversation. Bevy and Kip turned to look at the pink-haired who was eager to help in any way he could. "Are you sure?" Bevy inquired of the zeta who nodded. "Ae, I want to help, if I can," Syri replied.

"Very well," Kip said to the zeta. "It is actually pretty easy. All you have to do is make sure nothing radical happens and that the steeds don't make too much of a ruckus."

"I will do my best," Syri returned. He was confident he could do an excellent job and adhere to his mentor's requirements.

"Good. I'll have Ibbi give you a run-down of what you'll need to do before he leaves. Thanks, Syri," Kip said before leaving to find the omega and relay his instructions.

"I'm sure you'll do great, Pinkie," Bevy told Syri with a wink of her eye before she left the zeta to return to her duties. Syri watched the beta and alpha leave before returning to his task of brushing Ajax and prepping the vorst for the end of the day.

Once Syri had completed his list of duties for, he sought out the omega and collected his fill of information from the blue-haired. Syri memorized the steps Ibbi told him as the rest of the team prepared to head home for the night.

"Bye, Syri Inso! Good luck with your first night shift!" Ibbi called out in farewell with a wave as he exited the stables.

"Thanks, Ibbi," Syri responded to the omega as the blue-haired passed him. "Stay safe, Pinkie," Bevy bid before following the omega out of the stables.

"Thank you, Bevy Inna," the zeta said with a bow as the alpha lifted her hand in a wave. "Night, Syri," Kip said as he passed the zeta. The beta was the last to leave as Wyx's team had all left once they had returned from their shift in the fields.

"Good night, Kip Inso," Syri bid after the beta who sent the zeta a wave of his hand. Syri placed his hands on his hips and released a breath as he looked around the quiet stables. This was the first time Syri was alone in the massive housing for the royal steeds. After making his rounds to make sure all the stall doors were closed and locked, Syri stationed himself in a chair in the main corridor and prepared himself for the full night that was ahead of him; it was his first night shift.

The stillness of the night filled the zeta's senses as Syri remained in the same position for the first two hours of his shift. Determining he would not be able to spend the entire night in only one position, Syri stood to his feet and began meandering through the stables. Quiet nickers floated from the stalls on either side as the steeds sensed the zeta's presence and called for his attention.

Syri stopped before a stall that housed a horse that was still awake and pet the steed's nuzzle that was peaking out of its stall. The steed thanked the zeta for his affection with a soft whinny and a gentle nudge. Syri's lips curled into a soft smile at the horse's fondness before he continued his way down the corridor.

Rustling at the back entrance of the stables caught Syri's attention, causing the zeta to adjust his course toward the back of the building. Syri was cautious in approaching the back end of the stables as he knew he was the only one who was supposed to be in the stables at that hour. The zeta unconsciously held his breath as he neared the source of the sounds; they were coming from a stall toward the end of the corridor.

"Syri?" A voice sounded from inside a stall to the zeta's right. Syri's body loosened at the call of his name; he recognized the voice. "Calix Inso?" The zeta inquired as he approached the stall. The door to the stall opened to reveal the beta sitting next to a steed that was lying on the ground.

"What are you doing here?" Calix inquired of the zeta who stood at the entrance to the stall and stared at him with a quizzical expression.

"I'm doing the night shift," Syri answered before returning the beta's inquiry. "Why are you here?"

The beta pursed his lips as he turned to the steed resting on the ground and stroking his hand on the horse's back before answering, "I was lonely, so I came to see Damra."

"Damra?" Syri sounded in inquiry. The zeta's eyes moved to the steed lying next to the beta and realized she was injured. A bandage was wrapped around the horse's left leg indicating she had been maimed.

"She is part of Wyx's bunch and got hurt a few days ago. She's older, so it's not surprising. She was here before I even came," Calix informed the zeta as he pet the aging steed. The copper steed let out a soft nicker and nuzzled the beta beside her affectionately; she appreciated the company.

Syri found himself entering the stall and sitting next to the beta as Calix told him the steed had been injured during the run to the fields. The zeta lifted his hand and began to pet the steed gently, causing Damra's large eyes to droop closed. The beta and zeta both smiled as they watched the steed slowly fall asleep. Damra set her head on the ground and let slumber take over as the two workers continued to giver her affection.

Once Damra had been asleep for a good while, Calix slowly stood to his feet and exited the stall. Syri followed the beta into the corridor, and the beta quietly shut the door to Damra's stall before leading the zeta back to the main hall. Calix released a short breath as he settled into a chair positioned against one of the walls lining the long hall. Syri joined the beta in an adjacent chair before glancing over to check on the green-eyed.

Calix's eyes were turned to the floor, and his expression was down-cast. The zeta sought to comfort the disheartened beta, so he said, "It gets better." The words were quiet, but they were heartfelt.

"Hm?" Calix sounded as he lifted his head and turned toward the zeta. "What do you mean?"

Syri lowered his head as he answered, "The pain...it gets better. It won't hurt forever." Calix furrowed his brows as he looked at the zeta who now had his gaze on the floor. "Syri...did you lose your bond?" Calix's question was not intrusive, but rather it was filled with genuine concern.

Syri silently nodded his head in response, extracting a quiet gasp from the beta. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea," Calix said, his jaw hanging open in slight shock. "How did you cope with it?"

The zeta lifted his gaze at the beta's inquiry. Syri remained silent as he pondered whether he should tell Calix how he managed to deal with the pain. Determining any advice would probably help the beta in that moment, Syri replied, "I moved on." It was a short and sweet answer, but it held great weight.

Calix mulled over the zeta's response silently, turning his gaze back to the floor as he interlocked his fingers and thought about Syri's words. The beta and zeta sat in silence for the next ten minutes until Calix asked, "How did you move on? When you know you'll be mateless for the rest of your life?"

A lump formed in Syri's throat. In all honesty, Syri had not completely faced the fact that he would be mateless for the remainder of his life. However, he was aware that was the fate he had chosen. Syri would rather live out his life alone than mated to Jisue. A small smile came to the zeta's lips as he answered, "If there's one thing I know, it's that fate is never certain. Who knows what the future holds for us? Sure, I may be mateless until I die, but who is to say I won't find love?"

Calix lifted his brows at Syri"s statement. "That's a very optimistic view on this whole situation."

"Heyyy," Syri teased lightly in defense of his bright view on the world. "You do what you have to. That's how you move on."

"But what if there's someone you can't move on from?" Calix's tone was solemn, but his expression remained light. He was open to any answer. Syri turned his gaze to the ceiling as he prepared his response. "Then, you set aside a special place for them in your heart and continue on. There's a difference between 'moving' on and 'continuing' on. Sometimes, there are people who are meant to be with you forever." The zeta fell silent after concluding his answer. Syri's thoughts immediately went to the prince; Jae was the one person that held a special place in Syri's heart.

Calix bobbed his head as he soaked in the zeta's words. He liked the thought of 'continuing on' rather than 'moving on'. He did not want to force himself to not think of Kip or to completely forget the beta, so he decided to take Syri's advice into consideration and make a special place for Kip, so that he could continue on. "Thank you, Syri," Calix said to the zeta after he had a moment to himself to think about the possibility of 'continuing on'.

"Of course," the zeta smiled in response. "I hope it helped, even just a little bit."

"It did," Calix replied with a nod. The beta released a breath as he stood to his feet and turned to the zeta. "I think I am going to retire for the night. If you need anything, come and get me."

"Thank you," Syri said politely as he bobbed his head in thanks.

"Have a good shift, Syri," the beta bid as he started toward the entrance to the stables.

"Rest well, Calix Inso," Syri said as he watched the beta disappear into the night. Syri relaxed for a moment before letting out a long breath and standing and resuming his rounds through the stables.