816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQsGSyELdx
So this816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxnBQwXsCH
is finally it.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpRJ5ETJR6
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oFQMorPQv
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDHzUSAgXs
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV8jluvcTE
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WwsKrCNHY
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BlzidHPpq
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBZ6HO4EOu
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroxazFO8ei
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXrQt1EOJV
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44u7EAFvbt
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClD9IsLVwD
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDxjR2Qdby
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjIUluDfUy
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFVdotNfCm
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8f2vhPM7z
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlGI8xizK5
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPsWuIrQhK
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vXrL88fHq
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWIx2rF5eH
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPm9JWQkAj
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0W6Ak4WCy
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznecfXWiuC
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhzPhsSMTI
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOOCxKArDm
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKS4hIEtW8
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC5F0MG7EP
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKhWnSZbkU
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cYZvBdT05
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOULk4sy7dA
him."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYOVPGSZBx
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhaXxnls58
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LIXOmsi7I
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd0q5wh06o
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdlM5l3Hdy
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZL4iqa2b5
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6blGEJfMeN
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBiX97KGfL
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9juvZfvsb
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoHnLce862
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjThYkuKX6
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFAo4TTr5q
"You may pass."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgHrVdwtFy
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkju9cyzAF
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzXvv3hoKQ
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDBcaL9HrX
Serene816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGxuqFXEEB
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhhc8MHhBX
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l7ZF3xild
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xINXkjdJH
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAyOL8GEcR
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvTsPGACVM
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fY2bg6kyF
But the816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8AGKf8oiH
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1TqqnSChE
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSjqOIIKYM
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rtQXP5pzx
longer. He had to keep going.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxYWNFyB48
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdGXAR9qdi
First816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTSmElVXRG
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i6k6Dnphx
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucFAY6RM5Q
temple with their grand doors open.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg2HTMrd8C
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VoiWUQQW0
The first816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxqPspRIf6
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaYGkdAj2v
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8UmW2HkLM
light leading further in. 816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBgvMUu878
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpoQHooYdV
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Aw7yOc7Gl
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlQdUaIfIp
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR198vfydVu
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiC5IbveLD7
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUUWuXxmRM
trapped.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fSkE7nTxW
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMxoEtRd6H
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U9wXLs8hD
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wwz2eFcF1
"Calm816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSolG51byil
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSRlG5L0wq
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjg4cmeoBX
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMmKDsBLOP
words under his breath he followed the path of light.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cbwHVeJSg
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0JI7YL87r
He walked816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJfnI3jKIM
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp03CQwaZD
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuAjvZQutN
light, dwindling it down. 816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKRpqknZF3
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQrUKkvkLC
"Enough."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk08WkAYcM0
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYYI2dkeNB
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7M5ctr3RjP
the darkness and there was only light.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJrzJgJ9ah
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53PXWByjUU
"You816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0gLkLPB4B
have come far, Bongzhon."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDQS08Vq3T
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20xu9Ndx32
Serene816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWJlxciRjw
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRdPzxkL62
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotMm4DtuPv
"Come,816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2um1DI3zO7
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrxAmqc6HZ
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHH3DlUq2I
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU8ljDAxGb
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1XpzQ65Wf
"You,816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDa8aKonqu
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYaUl1Qsdi
judgement, whatever it may be"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2gxmSr81K
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NchqG8S4L
"I816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKEI0beAf8
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeUzHLcSA0
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxVlFDOLsj
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMtWzZ5LZM
"Very,816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypLFhwKQK0
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjQ7KB6wVg
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB89TF3YNGo
and a small boy appeared out of the light.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBFqZZHm5S
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBA9w8LHHM
"This816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYbilVvDME
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgArkW6S6m
to join your order at such a young age?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuISQw2SF46
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJGIwnc6GN
Serene816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0OhuE5ecJ
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeyqlHga19
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9OthYOsMl
provide for me and my siblings..."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ157gzcADcO
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lMmVv4WNL
"Is816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg864VkmGsJ
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EEovZSVnv
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VUxFhGQmv
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iXc4JRzuQ
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctvTZcbZ5c
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEurYh4Aeo
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Fs3aFfvfy
Serene816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bghPOfwHU
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx4TG19oZE
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWdfPwas2J
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqegIXJAqS8
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSKiG5TdCM
"Do816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sVlXMaT3D
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRbbms6O2t
leading them to ruin?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8a4nhqwqwh
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrd7LeTeap
"Yes."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq274Aqtql9
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiAVjpzPPd
he would've stayed or not.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOLEJf0fmT
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7zP8Xv4Hj
"Very816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2ihnJNDKy
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk5P8FbhaE
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0Y1Zd3KVN
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8wR7Q98nN
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIoLfJef0t
"I816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG7NIKQEoc
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInJjaLT4hH
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaDlYye3O3
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGVY0QoS7G
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW8lW6CGnB
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6XcqNOeGp
"And816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclbtBSSgAS
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogpMj0a0SU
perfect in your role?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4XhVmqQan
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk1wYBDsNR
"I816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5AnIVkhAb
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByNZP96yZF
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQsQ2kEv6j
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1fQ1l7LSc
stand by them.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKFF1FDfew
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNJimzsODO
"Good."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBWhj6blcN
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4olmgKzYGT
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cepkOjCyT
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qGpGsfrv7
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6EGidnhUP
"This816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8Zj1bGvGl
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWcHMMTjxJ
why did you decide to rest now?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSYRifFcpQ
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgpo12U2tJ
"Because816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKi0gCjvH7
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHkC5BYs9u
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxbptntxOZ
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgRsQosAyj
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5rYrBqMWp
"Any816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mjynNbn1w
last words before I begin my judgement?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls5krNMfGL
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡys4qM7YXwa
"No."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqZrPamZDS
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn87UwKmfx
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaiQokETFz
"Bongzhon,816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIwTnSyMEz
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKUzZeLpM7
rest."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6obGCWdkJU
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwMWIwGFvq
The light816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEGbpqV2MP
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0mPxWT2EH
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjqV5W7BM0
time in decades, happy and in peace.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyarJDKrfY
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6vbZ8dTKS
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rfBmQ9pro
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoQmU3eoL3
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVq2sdHDlLW
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDz0pJVpfz
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnH4fMi5SaB
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj3CICyuV5
