872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjecvqrjyZ
So this872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnlhG4dRVc
is finally it.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMNil1O0yD
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoSaZWQeQA
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk19xzrxPy
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkfNnAA8AV
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyykwCBQJX
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcoHTaP6nG
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOh79OHPaK
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEZQt6XeNi
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFVXlxZARf
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7t4TOgE9t
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocqwj3UuVB
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGNQKaA5PT
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT29ISQBuRL
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiz784AgZ0
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNiUNYj8LK
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKbQTXFoo6
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zC8ALHQI5
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNozFXkJjo
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyokbuec87A
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ks62K58jR
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm6a17y369
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxc1wySFUiK
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOARcnwUGuY
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8emZe2JZb
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGYXyzTXlr
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoeH9z1t8j
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyHcqgT9Km
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiXpCq7kmb
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgNahTocLi
him."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGjznWpQGF
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg83A6nAAH
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrApr4g8y9
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgGVPbOcYm
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcHuo9U07l
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAdoiYvMcH
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ODqnoomOo
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL7ckOIPRZ
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fgHM7r0jU
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WbbpjBccG
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwwLslaXIw
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNE3HVwJr4
"You may pass."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNTVfV8S8J
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCyEcRf5TU
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkMHFcpJ4n
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiscqXfYiPq
Serene872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjTwnII6od
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUgCLwfVHv
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhTN3GTD4F
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20t5UhyLNe
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZqsWCeWLQ
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQyot2HeR4
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DaoA8tBOi
But the872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lZ8zzPvu7
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJ95glzzRq
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWy95s0lvQ
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FnPplWAXg
longer. He had to keep going.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjc94o6E3y
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1bwkOZKNB
First872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGXT8yHSgU
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR0tkENpvD
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjAeRTkbpg
temple with their grand doors open.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2ios9DMlJ
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItoTlZHOgC
The first872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7xk5woiy9
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIogvHtc67m
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyuNyYUED9
light leading further in. 872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQBkrj37t6
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5ZIwg2p0J
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHiekyyPxO
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3818ij6Wx4
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8Xf4jVpDc
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqly6Qpojz7
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtALXQ1UwfA
trapped.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lleMdCycT
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRPRn4CwDa
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJApz9aMGv
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWPsHafNMP
"Calm872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW4XpXAkkz
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWmuXxJTaB
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCRXtFJuN7
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XjLvu7Ic4
words under his breath he followed the path of light.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81K5R1V4xl
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf6Ik1jDrc
He walked872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYhHIQzNbp
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9FLgeIPqj
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8p5rMAv1wU
light, dwindling it down. 872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8O7wSAMMD
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1uZvS2gWj
"Enough."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8Clm3d8UI
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsjSn0GNCS
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0O336d17U
the darkness and there was only light.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynevltGz3B
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD22YujCdu
"You872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBrQs4xhkO
have come far, Bongzhon."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6jtx2CZJH
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9E9kXw26S
Serene872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6V5by8kGha
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxhFLKxjEI
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzTuVOv4if
"Come,872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgkea1UAK9
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGkRagUk2K
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WdiQumThv
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGxf7fCskx
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQKJOyAef9
"You,872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnQ8YnWF6m
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml11peE8cX
judgement, whatever it may be"872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sTdv6J5H4
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn6NQXvoZY
"I872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JCMqeyezU
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwF9rDR054
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwJhYxurbk
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCwFhKROPF
"Very,872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIN44o2nXF
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmJhrz6vuw
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yHcIDW8zA
and a small boy appeared out of the light.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5cGasqTN8
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfr5A4TgOM
"This872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86MhKGe9NL
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0npju5tx3
to join your order at such a young age?"872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5ACvrFb2u
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfre70FLqK
Serene872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g70X8uHS9
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKZUFbuLDX
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDetGpk2m3W
provide for me and my siblings..."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjv7dn685rR
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99EpMBaqPN
"Is872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TcNw1UPmq
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJWMTCVapA
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGK92xpmc1Q
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j6a9SkpyM
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcbMzHRR0l
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeMEkaJAOh
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5l8v8EkjZ
Serene872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbPFrWQ1p2
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5VthE5zR0
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ePfL3Gjsy
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe7kHV0Ac5
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhaz5HMqFT
"Do872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYarYHAw8t
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MicgN6Yky
leading them to ruin?"872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVffpN0qUwV
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxHi6U7cXK
"Yes."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIvhVvKNIC
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfPBvrDBNS
he would've stayed or not.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RHGKtIxa3
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcclVXV0T3
"Very872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkXhrGporJ
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqf7YalJsB
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6muo83aQJ
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJFWn1dbYA
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMaJkb8yaz
"I872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L1AeJLsur
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdRV606qEJ
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz6d8Gnlcg
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3Bz9gz9gs
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57Gs1TeAgX
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsYEGGXl8T
"And872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVGVH7LpqC
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVS35UoDyK4
perfect in your role?"872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiv27TgYjE
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpidzegMdc
"I872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaA5UlCnBh
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS7cStFX8U
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JD4wu0wFH
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfFe9nkhog
stand by them.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe1L8bPUdx
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7Bha5SimY
"Good."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9Pr0z25Cc
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdbJ3hixEL
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKCEYD3cqM
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgFGUnhvtc
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMJL4ekIe0
"This872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPhnRJWzVy
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2WlOplzDb
why did you decide to rest now?"872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF0tQg74jN
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XZZv5jFuY
"Because872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5prDzun6FU
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1BikzQuG2
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH8Patptsa
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyakoPdFoLh
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk9eLor2yO
"Any872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPsqDuj8F3
last words before I begin my judgement?"872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIzMoqCV0o
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCOkNP99Yf
"No."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoDNlJMS5T
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0KqwBOp9U
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdQMsPCVKC
"Bongzhon,872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpoUlCG1nR
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTzUk13Fnl
rest."872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJJT2va5My
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ47gJCNFE
The light872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAerwtXEQzr
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv813fDK2zZ
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfTMIYxAKF
time in decades, happy and in peace.872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg5hn0Hvi5
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0817kQxb0M
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEeY8b6GWc
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQDvJxtIze
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGRhgQtdCN
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFed04cChf4
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNmJjzdNxh
872Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukwzda0nX9
