866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0kf4CCJGC
So this866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrByxbWQNQ
is finally it.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeavfdYTF9
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLKApUrh4E
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEzFBO8GCH
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDQPjh2pNl
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HL7l91i6u
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SSQyNCzMu
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeVXKQOENa
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Io0X9wf1z
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNU90dt4CH
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT162g4nFt
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡic4QTvbQLz
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUankcamMB
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5E1j4iSCk
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMPlReEqRq
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyltoIQSKk
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYLItMUOAP
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkVvhuOM2W
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsK7iuixJon
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeQCCa7lia
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbfn8Px5p7
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcfIXye5hL
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMldpDqFDrh
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZLHVtqhxu
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfGFoy8dCZ
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgUniqLue7
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobRtvJVTqq
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunf9FoZSMo
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GLkN238Lr
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmo2beO2Cs1
him."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBydBU6pFy
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGT9RnnwMWo
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhsXE1dRXX
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY6LWRaMve
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTYHg8wguK
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxJrmF4Knm
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhudtG3hnkm
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuybBfekMAh
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU7CP4RJhq
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsX1dIshkm
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6TqXDuC4X
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSdMwTGxqb
"You may pass."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wIJMnTXoD
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcK8iO6Nexq
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8Y6MIqPJV
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXX8nxlR6Jk
Serene866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG2u59EY07
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh3rJZwMuT
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQbEefpFiT
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma6rua7Jdh
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkkbUB9qa9
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUB14pDBfA
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kP9Cb7zJR
But the866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0S6Pb50MS
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLe764eze5F
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0qWdzKQtD
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZHJb8mg4x
longer. He had to keep going.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhESC7MY3oF
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSptAVt8Nj
First866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WFZMqRn77
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS3CH1rN8a
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjciKOTS8dU
temple with their grand doors open.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXykRHhpeI
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoPwkjDonG
The first866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1r2q0nDP3
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQPhoi0ape
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoQf13Ry3X
light leading further in. 866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsy8PmKoexx
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZlgReOL9s
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAeh9JOAVj
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgjm2lac5d
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49ljf8vFBI
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLw4ipnnpr
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KXBtQclV3
trapped.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7nNqqhbwj
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyf1Lozpb3
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWDXHj73ul
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma8yLER9Pd
"Calm866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufEHWbOEQn
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8Lwq9bEy2
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTkXmoGbDX
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu8gvi28Sh
words under his breath he followed the path of light.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkmBpcWvkc
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWxxvQqypL
He walked866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURa6lKHqJU
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6qZZMGqXG
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J6w06Pgmw
light, dwindling it down. 866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1e0mkorql
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqVFJoNuPL
"Enough."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9qwHPGAv3
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQyg0FvHqD
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBSi46SxbZ
the darkness and there was only light.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRWNcYjPwp
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5VTU3oDNO
"You866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbVEAu1SKd
have come far, Bongzhon."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtpLPJGejh
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2hzPCh7af
Serene866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VJOpZo6rA
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5cOcH5UiQ
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrNa02kIPr
"Come,866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNG2XSLFMz
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIbXUmLfyj
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6Gu9lM9NU
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlWkBP6KNV
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cVDAKDFPs
"You,866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXy1e4EK1K
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16NnE4gqiU
judgement, whatever it may be"866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRH1b632QD
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHQWqYAh8s
"I866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGoMaok51j
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl25adPdwI
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N81MGBbET
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aOixcjjr3
"Very,866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxEzOmh2l9
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9pdFInx87
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZzMqhjObB
and a small boy appeared out of the light.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt43X4znaf
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdMy5481rs
"This866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErDI2Lo77l
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixvhz5VboG
to join your order at such a young age?"866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1GM5mD5VB
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWCxyGTa32
Serene866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgOkOL0gzo
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dzEmeSTSQ
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24emhSix17
provide for me and my siblings..."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GIvfQdzS6
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1usuXGvCO
"Is866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidRc7xiBc7
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt5HVP0Ne1
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoKfZFp7vp
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4CRGgsf8l
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fvs1QMjGL
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2nxjVZYZw
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8HGr0HEPE
Serene866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFrmoKRcey
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciCYeLgdFv
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOHYbp7s3r
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzPsJU5qdq
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT8hTTNyEA
"Do866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVymccKbbR
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5oliRHZiZ
leading them to ruin?"866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xRujegbGA
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4d9xRtBuR
"Yes."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkBFeTozyP
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVRkjBycjl
he would've stayed or not.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflHMqLxF67
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UNckIint5
"Very866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bSn56I3gv
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxIkhFBQXZ
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUALZAqWAsd
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkKubX7yba
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn0pVtibeL
"I866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe5aLaL0e1
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIKFTBDL0b
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC87QbWD7i
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytyMJqJ6dl
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3H67ti3EE
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22XttQ78eh
"And866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab9nwTMemg
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhlprXYNxt
perfect in your role?"866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIMNIz8l3i
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6SP4u53HE
"I866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb9I8at1Jw
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzne7P3T7o
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgVJnefIXO
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXsUINvN4Z
stand by them.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtQ5ULLG8x
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9eQ6Kb9m0
"Good."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6jiVVcwvk
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzk3emsq99Q
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfzcxdVNDL
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeidWGTWMrL
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVZh70enGx
"This866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AIy9w2Oxb
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD7WGaaweI
why did you decide to rest now?"866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr81Ug4lOdU
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPHKUmaaCK
"Because866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXeSWsLqQu
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQDSPB0sEu
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtuABHkezk
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJuaxqvLS1
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljagtJXDxk
"Any866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptN32ny8RC
last words before I begin my judgement?"866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNniuhiTkW3
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WaFX9edWV
"No."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VWQUXL5pU
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUf73zwzbm
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgw1gAAbID
"Bongzhon,866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtE7OhPr1N
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjcYrG1S6l
rest."866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgtcJvAfkz
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1pG5e3XIp
The light866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUwwwcgx06
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO6U1yVJ22
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsHfCmD3vc
time in decades, happy and in peace.866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrqL5yXj00
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuovX27lacS
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NhBhzfnCV
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQvLpiELVE
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7z9bZ4wYZ
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdLP6uGVwD
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6sNLY6gtZ
866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KcWwCKLdJ
