Istredd's relationship with Stregobor is more difficult than he can say and it involves a lot of betrayal and pain and his own guilt over picking the wrong person. But that is Yennefer's story and not his, not really. It's also just sad to know that you can hate someone for decades and when they put a hand on your shoulder and call you 'my boy,' for a few seconds, you forget anything but what it felt like to be their favorite. Lucifer's father probably has more in common with Stregobor in the end, and Lucifer's a version of him that fought instead of escaped.

Istredd listens without comment to Wilhelm and he nods as he does, because he understands, it's true. Lucifer is lonely, or he was. Istredd likes to think he has filled some of that gap, but not all of it. For all Lucifer's problems, he is very easy to care about, or easy to want to connect to.

"I'll tell you what I told him and Wanda, and that is if we're not changing, we're not living. Everyone can change, even ancient archangels, but it is a choice." He looks back at Wilhelm. "Lucifer chose to prove to me that he's changing, and I know that he wants to make amends with you. Just know that it is not your obligation to forgive someone who hurt you, and if he fucks it up again, that's on him. I hope for both of you that healing is possible."

After a beat, he smiles wryly. "And for me, so he doesn't keep lamenting losing you and getting maudlin about it when I'm trying to read." That is only half-true, but the true part is very true.

"I do exist outside of him if you ever want to talk. I teach magic and I work in the library, I'm around."