820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CqkENe8La
So this820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFF2jMZF43m
is finally it.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kVoRzJjUS
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaficGUUR2x
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ571yxOp0UB
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkXukE0DvS
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7nWAQgp2y
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNof3Gr4sGL
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTdiWpn33R
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfYewMQdUG
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NQjKnEUOA
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zJ5DTCMrI
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8s9aJT4kw
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmtQ8uS7kY
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAg20g1EGx
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjltE0SMmp
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjDqaPIxjk
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQZiYFVIUu
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl84BNRQa0D
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PdjE7x0C3
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnGErZ1if5
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplzfSE0Snb
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4Lmn1UH9E
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh8vV3eQPz
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36l0wf0sWs
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDhhOCVV1s
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib1ZY5xM7Q
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2WZL7mOmo
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOLSl4PEB4
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22pNENah4w
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRyIaQUXg4
him."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1GG6rVJF6
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GJrex1MTc
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41Z7BTNKpZ
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5d2kt3G0mT
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvOvvDwIcp
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiHDUYykns
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbhWii6N34
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4fN7LPGIX
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTosStjfOR
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9zYCqpLyF
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQMddqrQNt
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXMeFcgRiS
"You may pass."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq9B2QFeXY
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipRW7DMhNT
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡia3pwIePw3
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz29bYRGVpv
Serene820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo2VEsTIyp
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWWeH3sTxa
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIWh9W1TMX
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQykCeWpcF
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHBDMMhncl
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe8slXimpJ
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe3XP71mDr
But the820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NWInImExm
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH1mrhKWdJ
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNF10d55bO
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPz2BYEqHd
longer. He had to keep going.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleFMER6Uv3
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlca37tXzJ
First820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM6nkqZIa3
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpRO0qD29m
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8i123tsEd
temple with their grand doors open.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinIqq0YhvI
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rP2VtINP9
The first820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kOooxMo4E
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xsuGKN82l
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnm4MYsWRW2
light leading further in. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2Vtkg9o1Y
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAXOkMfcPS
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk04BMlGYoL
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmEgUevcg5
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoHcCTwaI2
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLPk7ECgmd
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmso2fMqKT
trapped.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ533FnneZrB
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX96KPq9e3w
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBNTukP8Yz
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeooVRNBc0G
"Calm820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHKJzIYSCf
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSksSAvkDN
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQmjgqqsvb
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpnzpKeFRG
words under his breath he followed the path of light.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sigPRTtQP
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn959lSHfi6
He walked820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KKdkAIlwe
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY30VPko6Ww
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2FpuaU7m7
light, dwindling it down. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vYMk6UU2A
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG08JoaVft
"Enough."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYb7KAAx7Au
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcJjPwn74q
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2lUqJ1eVp
the darkness and there was only light.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKF0xDUg3wn
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94k2rAtDQM
"You820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfJ9kd4XPD
have come far, Bongzhon."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDl68XoTyX
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrysY3bRGC
Serene820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln3r7UHLmn
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUTCEHkyIy
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0scsmwiN7S
"Come,820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRkvpyZxjn
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3v2Qz4PNp
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnh712dJHpD
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CR97cbjOG
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI3U4CRDRc
"You,820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MphE9Ce9u
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITYFLR5XKT
judgement, whatever it may be"820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2eP7CVLiC
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LmDHXzYvz
"I820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoK2beesfz
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibQ2hsc1FC
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfX6hT7tOe9
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKSThDLbtu
"Very,820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVqA0tKJzN
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigTRDzhxlL
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOGms0By4j
and a small boy appeared out of the light.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gnoWH0ovv
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBvqAWIwCd
"This820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCV3A0yaax
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEiGaieLPc
to join your order at such a young age?"820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKROU0Ue34
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnuNRDK7ql
Serene820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErZ2ReyJV2
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtHihnP8F9
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7FdXqx9zi
provide for me and my siblings..."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKMvzvPgD8
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGQwCcc5Wr
"Is820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis1P6hik0M
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlRa4g5eYL
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPpXccd8aS
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFQESLDTLH
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tIeOR89h4
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1THvxucrsg
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfkTogS8Hw
Serene820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc63OywzSGB
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vaXtjUdyx
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnid5GYpq8
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoonhDhapPs
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfqDvl52C6
"Do820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVoTywUhr9
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2cl8jxNWT
leading them to ruin?"820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwHd6jti0W
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHovuZpVxV
"Yes."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIDoSyG1ca
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYYMaAMaFF
he would've stayed or not.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwSs2qfVbG
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSkAtTdDLc
"Very820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78iDDRA7h4
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LBAUIWNAL
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiIPWLrrGs
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeH3ZbKlmp
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvxD0g5IQi
"I820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tPzJWhTIp
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1fKssAb5k
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9cPAyDRuZ
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIBhqB0RZL
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbXUhn7MG6
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoW5324NBwt
"And820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsTKI9x5cR
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wmtOyImOS
perfect in your role?"820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBObHogIi7d
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWcaZzIbrK
"I820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgCaEiXM0e
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5FORR99aB
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2mlYLRHsM
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGNf4egyQX
stand by them.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIiqSMM6Qi
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyPL4A0eeR
"Good."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzEm0aRORP
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD8KFnVO8f
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKanCbDxGB
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2ix2f2vcd
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpllksDsmX
"This820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMw04m3L3Fe
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCneWvKwpdh
why did you decide to rest now?"820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpODlnscmZ0
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1hXRltrgS
"Because820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMlNOKJvlw
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhVdupbguT
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsmt19nRAz
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaxAPZiMHu
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQd7FqahZU
"Any820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeZIe5XfGb
last words before I begin my judgement?"820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3714uM9IM
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bAuDNe0mk
"No."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzibID0L9L
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D3MMoGQ39
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYg8hUjF57V
"Bongzhon,820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tyccodsp4
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNS4XVHwdf
rest."820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1RN4jdSaz
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8DpsXwE9O
The light820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlosBWhQhB
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbpwcVLIaC
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJilpu9Gm5
time in decades, happy and in peace.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w3RlniiIW
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJ3U5PbWhh
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyRONH05x4
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p0bIlFj7i
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJUftRBDWP
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYanQVuFN6
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0dHYKYu8C
820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRytJrhmrs7
