900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnseVKindq
So this900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjt7InoUJp
is finally it.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WcHPW2ph1
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLRcifBZrJ
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFrMtNoQBm
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGN3NgGfys
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NVcD4NANw
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ1e3N8SvB
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUib4332whf
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSloH983Z7
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ziQNPfMuN
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqP0rjHVaU
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O9kVBJ7kf
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXYGfaRYm2
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7Yw1YCmtm
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr2zwNIibv
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHuT4KVDtP
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz6WvRg6A4
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUb3Mv70w9
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmru6VlkQx
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdxir6avGk
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmuhqws7cJ
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowrGFPCoAG
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYzfaaHhNI
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ5yG7sOln
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPOJiKe6SU
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8NHdKAyTx
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw0EJBzYTD
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtWeLwOREH
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXZDtG3Ur1
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5TKQFOBPC
him."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvpcfyjo88
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqIDZOHcYx
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDifuGivTB
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFIIWkWTAM
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc7PvjC8aE
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvkuSSwT04
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaF8jqOufE
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNbG94MvmF
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi363mWT6G
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqHEmCfrrO
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLd7yz9IWX9
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaSgk6gx3Z
"You may pass."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgdRHxWr29
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZNcwEgSBc
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfGK5nIs5t
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuue7GfeWZ
Serene900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf8HcLZY2K
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN92dN3j40
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hUSV51w4r
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDD8o4qqF8O
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpULh4M5gv1
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuTqKQvOUa
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdl2aW9SDt
But the900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1OTvNpvJM
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgZdoBXmNh
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnBrIJLJmn
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pPoIPhWwK
longer. He had to keep going.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX17VhEvSxj
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb4xaD9SVb
First900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsnfUTNMtT
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIVwVoOPYY
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOpvzDCPl7
temple with their grand doors open.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01Ol53u4RK
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsefdIBuuXF
The first900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W3n8Pd069
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArGIBDoUYY
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGk6v0vDiM2
light leading further in. 900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBdFYer2uG
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO45vIx4KZE
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW8JmjqvyG
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLWlBjGQYV
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwWoqo0qnT
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHUZI3eYzR
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44gJWAsFxW
trapped.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlniNY6dTD
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FbKA84Ox7
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vdI5iaSqq
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZzThey8Dk
"Calm900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTCRvy6kDS
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRljVTbdag1
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdCdREtomT
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01c0GFKa6o
words under his breath he followed the path of light.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5j0B0jHKu
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZitej6eb1L
He walked900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFBGomN7dx
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHIYSc5Z7P
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bYTOjWF81
light, dwindling it down. 900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWWreFJddY
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfDw1Iraln
"Enough."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNWcyDGxZT
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sYJ3hwhvb
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7gB3kytSK
the darkness and there was only light.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTjeTOvKTZ
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbRwOKRyz1
"You900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlSwCEgoKI
have come far, Bongzhon."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4bOfsuW5U
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovzuNpkgon
Serene900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3BX4p2HEA
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AI5ziRvau
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YwCGS4fY6
"Come,900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TsEgrW9hp
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNGPQztxPx
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp5iLAvWUg
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIno93iEmI
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdnGEPJ00u
"You,900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXgecYR0Ey
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVDbnJqanA
judgement, whatever it may be"900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNTrafAczG
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW84mvC0ip
"I900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFGDnJopWO
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDspQylOpFN
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0AJDjjj5H
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtmyzKffd3
"Very,900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJMcV6lU5q
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVq7LUHzzI
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwih0j9m73
and a small boy appeared out of the light.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcatNcfVRqq
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlww624CgN5
"This900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w3x8Xz9NL
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMpm0fLd8c
to join your order at such a young age?"900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNILIL5r8FM
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDsE3WZ3fF
Serene900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MMyJMsuRo
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DD5rIFJxF
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmTiaeHP1S
provide for me and my siblings..."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TjitEFFoe
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Grkzhmguu
"Is900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvgcG4J7ex
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvauHxKdl7j
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsOH2TpVI4
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGU2h4bj65
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQazwl4BI1
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvwsCSdsR6
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVLY0FLXHH
Serene900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdso2nS3dvW
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbTdtMVKbF
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCkZ0lnuTQ
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ812rf76bTo
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWcKTiFTPi
"Do900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNECottROrS
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kla3nwAhn
leading them to ruin?"900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6Ddu1QgRF
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYBMuCxDpR
"Yes."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs7kjfmetV
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZS7SUDkjM
he would've stayed or not.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZAQ1JiONG
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTTdJ0d2gF
"Very900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuUH61GIkc
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsm0iaRiZj
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKedWLmjZDg
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKhhRdZRgF
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUR8SbrhkzA
"I900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI0cfuowXv
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTjJr1ENGw
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RhihLV6n2
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi41bIclqJh
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1oVlZNlEY
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1It23I0Ij
"And900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ti1ttR1it
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyJ89kVhJL
perfect in your role?"900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XOXKtmsGU
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8LyV0fths
"I900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIdPJvvVFM
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp0bPoKoiB
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1nYdQpQGw
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7iCmuJCzi
stand by them.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvmA2TRPJg
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAD4yDNltr
"Good."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENjDvZbSK4
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHoiCP6RxT
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiwQ0eUic1
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6uHaNHiJ3
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgHmSjhfXQ
"This900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkYhp5k5sy
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKX8YhufUNu
why did you decide to rest now?"900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAA67Qa3JK3
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAeuIu4nTm
"Because900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4hhaaXXad
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLSafTtMe4
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnMd2Qew6A
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14sIiciZ0G
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxmebk5obs
"Any900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX76jJOaYVA
last words before I begin my judgement?"900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY5UzIu5ro
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0zmDlovCs
"No."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Io3tWnTRX
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95BecETnol
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ge9yCAD0N
"Bongzhon,900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBouR1u4Vtp
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzhmUgvUrq
rest."900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVq6OPZSjT
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeoyCzJQBD
The light900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfO3hwC8yp
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXclDpSrxlt
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3y2uxrfrK
time in decades, happy and in peace.900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNJk1XFjhy
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G6TLsvzXL
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2A9fJsdLau
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjL1XaXitT0
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm4SYitLOY
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJvjdRgXFa
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsH2OqMmqR
900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GyPJnYlx1
