911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwSlsLk2QG
So this911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uE8PKbMej
is finally it.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hQEUIqrOE
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0tbtMh0Om
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47dMzpergK
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0c59pPp48r
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRecX0lyi7
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HGDH2pZwh
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3yKMlLm3S
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhgwaGckuh
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaEt8xL9hg
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiJnVkaHVZ
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T2GLdhQ1v
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizRiG9OYqK
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8eZG8hBgr
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UxdjRgbCl
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMpMC85Spa
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ5dbfqHc9
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QRTRdXkkP
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfLRGNDxdl
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlBAqYGmZE
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZWskrWs7e
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3UtiwDNsd
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaww69GZIWE
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghxsnq1Pye
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiz5N97kEd
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQhkXZxWzg
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87fyftOgAc
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaY9fTpxDMH
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKVwCLrBtf
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpoBwJnU8N
him."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAO9Ytaving
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4dyiC2grg
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pFkhU7srb
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd5PNASLEa
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI9EI1cJrK
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEh73KxffP
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ3nU8l3V5
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQymQmefQKQ
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhj1dBApwT
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1YMnfqdK3
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98HbC1VBHR
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEAdVUCPLc
"You may pass."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhpiDD18Xu
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkGr2GQCSj
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUx07G69ct
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWTYkK7pma
Serene911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGMYyBX93Y
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rvPak8iJB
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp5Dgm12Ih
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXbgTwBoXI
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhalNAYWcP
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS9LgnsvL9
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRUNaXj2XO
But the911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfcY8UIoPa
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjU4lIPWAl
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLpccKFIgx
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb40rl4azFJ
longer. He had to keep going.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nMRhsS0bO
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwh8zaTxp8
First911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKSTP4Zyzh
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzPqR6NxnQ
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JRvjLlFXU
temple with their grand doors open.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0sUPXfMxE
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlvVWbWtKH
The first911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt7Uo0MUIm
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFDILKhYIj
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbFwJD1Tme
light leading further in. 911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyd8sn6AXo
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEnmeuyYxG
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuxgYCCUbq
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGhis94p4L
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpjL0wQuLZ
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiliwzRZZs
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRXwF18nnm
trapped.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSpNRm8eQi
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjBa9nMytm
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgfrehxyCp
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCY2TjkZDk
"Calm911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjyNM3sFdc
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDJQneOin5
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDiPVoUocM
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEWTkklbqb
words under his breath he followed the path of light.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC7CW6OyZA
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmofnJqYCz
He walked911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaG5BfAlPY
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURUnFYWiqw
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRbSRV4Ifp
light, dwindling it down. 911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeAIvrMv7e
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRzyDL2tOc
"Enough."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRhB6sAiRf
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRosBvY9sSR
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mwAD5wWQh
the darkness and there was only light.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpm6BNYRtlu
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GfuMTilza
"You911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJYdHf6jLS
have come far, Bongzhon."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlVZ0ZVxHG
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKWGOcH1fn
Serene911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zpVuXbI7g
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VXjCQ1olr
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmvPs9AdNy
"Come,911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pOrewG7KV
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcagH4ujnz
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm9UoDAFqh
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e351lR8pv
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGmDyl8wIN
"You,911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUObsoaAI0
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLyrhpiniV
judgement, whatever it may be"911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjogPXtkcig
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWEbfFtgCP
"I911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeBL0lcJih
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCbRLr4VSq
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZKxLzYrTg
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cdyDOmhC7
"Very,911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPVPXjRluo
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMWzFvlexh
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Nw2EQOXrM
and a small boy appeared out of the light.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRUX0jrcBq
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqM3HrGSOI
"This911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17YoPzlW3C
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzgtPtX6w6
to join your order at such a young age?"911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9k6eCFHCu
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjyDtLKErd
Serene911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAgYjBhEQk
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSh39PsBMS
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6iu431dwc
provide for me and my siblings..."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF4Ds388KL
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Zdz9ygl3c
"Is911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gHne9GUbq
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWzXLnNNBo
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpQLwZ2Qjf
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImQB5qCiY2
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhzusZmneZ
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvut51zYazZ
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTTKRVkXkY
Serene911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCvM2QeXsg
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidnOeGk7Ts
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzPqIBudZW
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2o9cqwyTc
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw46tRySOo
"Do911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0Fhch2jIC
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXv4wJEWSS
leading them to ruin?"911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZjnsYhQPF
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEBIPtY7Ck
"Yes."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsjHeee9cB
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DgVXfAm71
he would've stayed or not.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtpUCNii8r
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzyx1f8vRS
"Very911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhUBLQUwdJ
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbqWuVsEWm
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGQ6n0OQnQ
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHCCQuuyki
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8b6UIt2FWk
"I911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7u6EYu9nO
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcKXXek3zR
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpnMoiZxL6
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgwuGHUuUt
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTFSKzkIP6
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSs14UQFs5
"And911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ6sn0KSmn
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpar8N3Hyv
perfect in your role?"911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe77O2ixszf
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx10KAKrLT4
"I911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWpNYAUBiJ
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabAzvT1Yot
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1wzckzRjH
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtWP9DcDyn
stand by them.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6l2wHGpwVI
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHt0p3h0moz
"Good."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0BjzZaQjj
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaBvYd05oG
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7Zpn1jQHy
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQGNoBcY8t
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LAWN14XXG
"This911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZYhxgrWuZ
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9AHvspzIh
why did you decide to rest now?"911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH2U9Ht9Qo
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXXztVfmwG
"Because911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRzRruFfIj
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuPEepmx9T
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT7PdcCdBf
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW4J6oyIEJ
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6hVXXlNnT
"Any911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDSCqMw5Yc
last words before I begin my judgement?"911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPdoyw4Ibu
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtn5CnHg51
"No."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHDoMK5nhI
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnYDzVW3dH
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOtlUCPG0T
"Bongzhon,911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KyZ13EPhx
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOTNv4CXNZ
rest."911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpsqOK4PO7
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GWCKkSUo8
The light911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEFsV1YGfW
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgu5AYOxRLm
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1tFKLbAzE
time in decades, happy and in peace.911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTr1sx8YY6
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSkZ2OJS0r
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicaUY18LiK
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYc9VIfZIO
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbaf7vyk7M
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQYWvHrSGn
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvMu7RTk73
911Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6gOjQmgIq
