The Pythagorean discussion

In the early chapters, do you feel the world around Theo is ruled more by fate and prophecy or by human choice, and what scenes made you lean one way or the other?
Even before the more dramatic later episodes, the book sets up a chain of teachers and mirrors for Theo, from Hermip and Elena to Pythia and Pythagoras, each of whom reflects a different part of him back to himself. How do these early relationships challenge Theo picture of who he is, and which teacher figure did you find the most convincing or moving at this stage of the story?