"Cheers." The boys toasted. It has been ages since they last had a gathering. Ages since they saw each other. None of them changed much physically. And about mentally...that was left untold.

Erynx had always been like a mirror. Crystal clear. That or it was what he wanted others to believe about him. That he was uncapable of guile. Whatever it was he didn't care.

Even when they were all together, he always confessed of loving Gwen Houston. But he was afraid. The line between love and obsession was quite blurry. It takes an astronomical amount of consciousness on behalf of that person to acknowledge where love ends and where obsession starts, which more than half of the population does not possess. It could assume any shape she gave it, but it won't change the fact that all it ever was, was infatuation. His words not Ezra's.

On the other hand, there was a chance however slim that Andres could change. Though it was not in his best interest. After all they required a sadist to function. His face has now assumed a gaunt shape. The monster within him announcing its presence. Though it did seem like his sadist nature was slowly dissolving. But nothing about his cynicism changed even a bit. He never assumed a sadist to be in possession of any humanly feelings. But he was different.

"Let's say that there is a fountain of eternal life. A man goes there seeking immortality. But in the process, he drowns. He drowns in the fountain of eternal life. So, what is he? Dead or alive?" Andres stated putting his glass of wine down. Everyone was at the verge of losing their sanity by that time.

"Paradox. Isn't it?" Erynx observed. After all, what is life if not for the paradox It always is? In order to live one must die. At least in a metaphorical sense. Something to convey the rhetoric meaning. One cannot simply accept life without accepting death. But everyone feared death for it is the painful truth. Now definitely he wasn't going to say that after death this or that happens. Because who is he to judge? Or anyone.

For all, he believed in Nihilism. Except for the part they say life is meaningless. Nothing in the universe is ever meaningless. It was also a paradox. How he believed in it but at the same time that everything had meaning. He reckoned Mankind is simply too distracted by the mundane glitters to acknowledge the tranquility served by life. They are too busy wallowing in their own miseries. Men indeed are too lazy to quire the true purpose of their existence. Not that everyone had a very prominent one, but one nonetheless.

He believed that everyone had two fates. One with which he is born, not within his fathomable control. The other, yet to be written. In which he could either save the world or destroy it. But that is not the point. Actually, nothing ever is.

"Aren't we all?" He asked with a quizzical look plaster across his face. "Should we inform the girls?" Erynx rasped. His throat burning.

"Didn't we try? But look at the results. Aeri is out of contact. There is no trace of her. At least none I could find. Moreover, Yelena repulses us all. She would rather die than co-operate with us. This much she has made clear to me."

Haaa...Yelena. She has always been a nuisance to Ezra. She, out of everyone, loves to quarrel. Or so he thought.

After everything that had happened to her. Or should he say after everything she believed to be true was nothing more than a charade, she at least deserves to loathe them. "Of course, she does." Ezra replied. Of course. "I think it is time for us to take some steps." Take the step. With that they ended their meeting that was yet to meet its motive.