#out of convocation

If there is one person he can truly be with, it is Hesperos. For so many reasons. Hesperos knew him while he was Chief Keywarden and Lahabrea, what's more, he knew him while he was still Hephaistos. Hesperos would have seen the change that was brought by Athena's death, though may not know the cause of it. But he would be one of the first to notice it. What's more, he is naturally a humble, quiet, enthusiastic, happy, proud, and caring man for all Wardens and creations. A man that enjoys the imperfection as much as he enjoyed the perfect. Hesperos cares greatly for all creations, but more so for Lahabrea's, creations known to be destructive and unforgiving in nature. But that didn't matter, he can see the pain inside them, though so blessed with great powers and magic, they were empty and full of pain (possibly mirroring how Lahabrea was in person). To add, he cared greatly for Eric, Laha's son, and cared for him and taught him all he knew, supporting the boy and his growth, praising him, and making up for Laha's lack of fatherhood that he could not give to his own son. Yes, Lahabrea noticed how the man treated his son. How his son looked up at Hesperos.

Becoming hemitheos, tainted Hesperos' emotions and main, poisoning and twisting it. But even then it was obvious just how much Hesperos cared for his Master, wanted his approval and attention, wanted him. It was obvious by this alone, just how much Lahabrea messed up the chances to give Hesperos what he wanted, in his eyes, and possibly keep him from going so far and deep as he had. Had he noticed, and paid attention to the signs, Hesperos may not have gone so insane for what he thought the man deserved better than. The man deserved better than his attention and appreciation, deserved better than a broken man who couldn't return what he so desire.

Even after being bitten and attacked and toxically embarrassed by the hemitheos, Lahabrea wasn't going to back down, no, he know not just his responsibilities and Lahabrea and Chief Keywarden, but his responsibilities as a friend and master. He allowed being attacked and bitten, if it meant freeing Hesperos...If only he was a better man and master, this would not have happened...So Lahabrea thinks.

What's more, to learn it wasn't just his other half, but Athena that caused Hesperos' change and their comrades' deaths, it weighed heavy on his mind.

No, no matter how guilty Hesperos felt, or how much the man blamed himself, Lahabrea couldn't do the same to him, he couldn't blame or lash out at the Warden. Because it was his fault that brought the man where he was now, where they were now. He was unable to figure out Athena's motives sooner, end her sooner, destroy her and his other half sooner, to be there to help sooner. No... He just couldn't. But he couldn't allow others and Hesperos, not even himself, to see Hesperos as a monster or a freak.

Being a Master of Creation Magic, Lahabrea knows the difference between an creation, and a man, and he knows which Hesperos, and it wasn't a monster or freak. Though he holds many qualities of a hemitheos, Hesperos was still himself to the core. No... he was no monster that deserved to be cased out, or be put into Pandaemonium and sealed off from the world.

Due to these things, Lahabrea tries everything he can for Hesperos, to make him happy, to feel safe, to feel at peace, to feel free, to feel normal, but more so...to feel accepted and appreciated. Lahabrea knows what it is like to be different, to now be like the others, and that never stopped the others from praising and accepting, and appreciating him. How can he not do the same? So filled with guilt of being Hesperos' downfall and change and destruction, he helps the man out of guilt...out of shame, knowing, even if the other would not admit it, that he was truly the one to blame, because he was weak, because he was a monster deep down, and he did everything to cast it aside, only for it to twist Hesperos. He couldn't allow the man to rot and be isolated and caged for that. He was responsible, he was at fault, and he wanted to make it right, makeup to Hesperos...

And yet, even with all that, Hesperos still adored him still looked up to him, still appreciated him, and still praised him for his perfection and imperfection, and he doesn't do it to get on Lahabrea's good side or due to a naive nature, he does it out of genuine emotion and appreciated. Because that is Hesperos. What's more, he forgave him, forgave his imperfection, forgave his brokenness, forgave that he wasn't actually a good man, but an scientists obsessed with perfection, and loved him for that. All that, all that happened, he wasn't being naive or a fool or blind by toxic emotions, he just never changed, he just cared, because that's what he does, he cares. And to add, he is the polar opposite of Athena, honest and accepting of his imperfection, and accepting of who he and Eric were as people... Even after everything, even after being given so many reasons and chances to cased Lahabrea away and aside and to hate him and be angry with him and resent him, he doesn't, he cherishes and holds and comforts the man after everything the elder went through, as if nothing changed for him.

He is accepting and understanding, but he isn't afraid to call out Lahabrea's behavior and actions when inappropriate. And the Speaker respects and appreciates it.

Hesperos, taught him to be accepting of himself, embrace imperfection with perfection, and that even the smallest thing can be cherished as if it was the greatest thing, and this evolves ten times over when they come together again after Lahabrea is freed from Zodiark.

Lahabrea's resentment and hatred and loathing for the shards and life on it is soothed and cooled down by Hesperos own quiet caring and yet firm nature. Due to this, he helps teach Lahabrea the diamonds in the rough, and helped him regain his humanity and emotions in whatever ways possible in the process. And again, even after everything, Hesperos never once gave up on him, never gave up on the possibilities that Lahabrea can be a better man, that he was a better man, with the right hand and voice to guide and support him and to give him a chance.

Hesperos, to Lahabrea, is a breath of fresh air, wind on his wings, pliers that broke him from his tight suffocating cage. Hesperos truly and everlastingly loves and accepts and appreciates him for who he was in all stages of his life, and never backed down from a fight with him, be it Lahabrea, Ascien, or his own fears and doubts. Hesperos talks to him, listens to him, cares for him, accepts him, and doesn't give up on the good nor give into the bad.

Hesperos, if everything he wants to be... And Hesperos... helps him slowly become that... And Hesperos, was Hesperos, a amaurotine, no matter the form he takes on. And Lahabrea... was the true Hesphaitos.