[ Erik is quiet as he listens, even after. Michael is vague about most of it, but he can at least deduce that he's not human; possibly some species that lives considerably longer, with the way he talks about the passage of time.

He takes so long to answer that Michael might even think he didn't hear him for a moment. He's just stringing words together in his mind, before giving voice to his thoughts. ]

If there is no free will, then we live in a predetermined reality. Our lives are decided from the moment we are born. There is no purpose, no reason for anything that we do. After all that I've witnessed, the things I've done in my life...

[ He slows down, glances at Michael for a moment, then ahead once more. ]

I could never abide by that. There is no fate but the one that we make for ourselves.