877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAiNWWDoz9
So this877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrQs2iQXRJ
is finally it.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9Q6dtA5aj
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcLc8Zcihm
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChCgYPzoUi
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9FP06Rnb3
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhH0kvBhbCe
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPacnhhPuep
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uebFGjTub
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCj6GsjXCG
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3r4HO0Eb8
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLduSdDfI7
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY86cEy4DFP
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzeG3srGUy
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZmw4VFb5H
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifY0ZWZCIn
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUubYMtIuWh
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GoHYznkGB
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtL7eIPFGv
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTtLqAsCM1
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf5IyZXC3c
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zT92roQB3
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQXN3bBI3r
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2l1nD1hrd
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrvYEHmpsm
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgA7PPy77P
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDBc43OrGg
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNnxGkXrBv
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZM1CDD7hJ
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN52hppXRyR
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hLvuH9Tx5
him."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZYHHwyy4T
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqoxlzwdsz
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh637vAqnxS
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMXIDRJ6dc
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aE1HsDSha
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQPLEINVdn
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3SQa2fbaI
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l4DB2KMyJ
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lCXsU5Jv8
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjypy5u5pm
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDnBHGpP01
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtiuEsnFKz
"You may pass."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3brLYR3Wg
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFa0eqvgDwq
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp7gJtScJw
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojGWKRNFrQ
Serene877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfn4DqqbJPV
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcb1XUfqjn
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCgo5hbl5c
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbsGS17mRG
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2uP9S8gic
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFrbCwLpKc
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX3f9bTWLJ
But the877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyARjf0GJv
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6HGUY4OEK
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFACsDBKh0
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXnFTgCZkH
longer. He had to keep going.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1Wzcykhor
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BJNE5vlI2
First877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxCQifS8Pv
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4p47HXqbD
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTctQBqzyQi
temple with their grand doors open.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kuTgrqUZV
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMHXFhKEim
The first877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6iUYiV1vM
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAwBKB36Lu
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWAj2Qq9Nn
light leading further in. 877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L41EphRay
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQlEmnUXWY
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOu4zhrTMo
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd91Fp3VxM
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVpDFTca35
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRxyJJNRqt
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXeybuYvO1
trapped.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwsRaK8qPD
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBQndL2puJ
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfEP80L9x7
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXYpCy5xJg
"Calm877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixSevyrDTu
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zWcfoikdX
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvM5GDFA5t
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb21TzEgL2s
words under his breath he followed the path of light.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbBlyhkTYT
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUTmp7oM71
He walked877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkXRzVh7m7
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjvCMZI78E
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5iXO9cMMz
light, dwindling it down. 877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMu2IgFURU
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmzQfTkqyI
"Enough."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1FJHENNu1
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdgQAp11gA
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufEWhcxt4A
the darkness and there was only light.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccC0w64rDs
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnukGPuWUoP
"You877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeh11fEEyh
have come far, Bongzhon."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQpGiHah6A
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lU01ZgUkf
Serene877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSV9ceeBWD
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOdcVt4GfI
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡli5WNxLjLJ
"Come,877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQrIYDICKq
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nfB16poe8
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY7zHn7poc
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceXMn6SoBF
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeKaY5msrY
"You,877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnFooBJwO7
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgw5EQ5mjB
judgement, whatever it may be"877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoudRqNdjA
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ0ZRFjCIY
"I877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWs9AoJS2R
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgjgBlRq6Q
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I0gvLlJbe
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUFW8Bf3g5
"Very,877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8KuuuDibt
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqsStFWQNz
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1rlxlOhSg
and a small boy appeared out of the light.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicHyPxKWHv
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP1ezOvX0O
"This877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9SriZkXTn
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYmqmB1U0J
to join your order at such a young age?"877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy49Jn7aAB5
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmjJv5A92d
Serene877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXN36qII3u
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQOYqgOcTZ
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV98vAphcl0
provide for me and my siblings..."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2JNiLpDbn
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbFjUWRGDi
"Is877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVzjpW90yE
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhkBNw9G1f
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1Y3yOXcS2
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPP2Wq2hYA
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35B6UwafFG
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIJnQrXW1J
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AQO6AThxR
Serene877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GbOiy4mJ4
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJtvEp8keT
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY8XxrDlIt
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJcHYGQ6n9
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBR3Jp0Mb1
"Do877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5EqeZxVxk
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDllk8rRLG
leading them to ruin?"877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S70qNUG50
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1z7mp7u4K
"Yes."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWljxZ8geg8
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1u1FWcH2N
he would've stayed or not.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXDrwsaPKA
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAM8iziziZd
"Very877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECAUUVK2nQ
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEksQUMbdkH
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0GHnCtfFl
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCNeTOtMDq
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhEANxk8XK
"I877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43DzM2h4bf
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMfCidDlYl
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7IRGZDkFf
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeDEAiI1kz
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCRZMHHV9d
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9IT2myMhl
"And877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38AtGKM8NE
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBGlIYfU1K
perfect in your role?"877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4ijyIMcyB
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvY7ccfeh6
"I877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC0lwgEFKi
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gF4g1afnt
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4vEpru0bV
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwNZSvge1Q
stand by them.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DqGKMrunL
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqglplN4oW
"Good."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzj6rnEeAh
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJLvAVlJzw
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qakloZBju
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt872qGBWy
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoGOotbm2f
"This877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOiveA75ET
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ5P5DcJM0
why did you decide to rest now?"877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOssUCUfuB4
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kpRRGUDgJ
"Because877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIt4mp6uRI
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcLWjLBRMy
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBf1erU5WA
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ny1lDIkNj
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8GCmcc3kF
"Any877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh1M4jeyqf
last words before I begin my judgement?"877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccQq5iWqQl
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3ecJlsYfv
"No."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9Dxtu3Qp4
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjoIoBZB7B
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlbf5DXONN
"Bongzhon,877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3002gJFvBZ
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5W0BtZB3fh
rest."877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzFTrsI9gS
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKFK9y6xYi
The light877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzg5WcA8FM
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOoN6HrvNg
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWQD2o2z5T
time in decades, happy and in peace.877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj1HpXV0xs
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk5UjckeW9
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbAq6n9GI1
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lStOduHfl
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtTr7IDRN4
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJux5bVnhzw
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw3FJDQ0Km
877Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtVTqMTS3T
