876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5ztlrkfln
So this876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4VPVHNlY3
is finally it.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYRtiEs7dY
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabeeHquvcd
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfzDNU50Fj
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCuxMxkw2N
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcUvCnmBmC
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLwmchdzqG
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmfOadYyd0
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9BUHk3Gxo
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUoXmiqFgN
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kuTj8iW1k
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15VDn2BWv4
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuZHOWShsJ
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHqElogill
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5blajNdBRH
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVS0d7gBfm
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zXkgfginZ
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx4cuyedXm
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUZ6fCk8IT
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Wukq1jY7B
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr1s37VLfN
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKGCHXZohb
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdqRcVN6Nr
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMrHxckZpL
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcASGyp3mv
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5VFVyIwPT
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVPWzts4ol
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgky8aibnI
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2eI20gu1e
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ97fDpRQ3i
him."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCUFJc2txV
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwT7oYIEHi
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznTczEjyFm
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRU9bh4aA6y
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9JhoyVc2J
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi71GSXdrXJ
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVmOupnFon
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33QiqfsGSD
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTlKd88j4L
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXPqArRMRq
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YxaccBZK4
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ342rkJmF2i
"You may pass."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpOXq2GnZv
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKij4LAoIC
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4iUnJnvEJ
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwCS53BeK6
Serene876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF8fI4Bn3E
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IMulBjFN8
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpspGkTZnw
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpC8astsQH
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2EWIikKyO
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88VbqSGphM
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1d36OnVXZ
But the876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGzLOuPSZo
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2TznJKn9E
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQAruhDQrU
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazPpntZPXY
longer. He had to keep going.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfGHOclIrp
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsfMXV8CEQ
First876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYGBI08Zpv
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiHoJsfzVb
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3Es1tzrv3
temple with their grand doors open.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRM9rOo3Mo
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0qqqjRUWj
The first876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi6TvcupVP
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYBqWZAWXU
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ5yUHftsw
light leading further in. 876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrcYSMMcfa
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0YtwjwVlI
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjB6Be9s0H2
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ831m4OoGpf
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcygTY8fvK
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkOxRPuaCE
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBDHBNlb7W
trapped.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnQYDHSTdg
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbxC6jdKat
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEC18reuau
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C1GytHCBH
"Calm876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Cvg07LY24
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDf2bepn7u
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglV8sGzhiw
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7rAdrTP0q
words under his breath he followed the path of light.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAsNVrJ4zh
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1owGouXLzt
He walked876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zK2XsU5T4
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMyjWVkoT4
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwwlVQKFzs
light, dwindling it down. 876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeibcJCHxX8
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxZySOWd0H
"Enough."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT4YlO8WvH
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ318HxRQxdh
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WXPdiNjAh
the darkness and there was only light.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEi7Cvx7wF
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja5F8Ac6KQ
"You876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxGDpYF9Lw
have come far, Bongzhon."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpv98vUQz6V
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPhWTYqHRb
Serene876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmAE9bFr9k
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIolcIQ0oO
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0O2x0OVrCe
"Come,876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEwsOxDBWi
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBM46GxOo9
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt8UViV8p9
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxX5UkGyv38
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLGspqBbDC
"You,876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlN4QbJkBA
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGplREG8yy
judgement, whatever it may be"876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCXlrqkkpC
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQumwPkjBX1
"I876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5rgi0mLEi
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypdic3OcWX
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJDJn7O3ea
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7W9A2Uog8
"Very,876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBjIWG1AC7
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUkYPHkto3
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID0NaLOl66
and a small boy appeared out of the light.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyrmIQbTzE
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mQxWooiSy
"This876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSZa7MaPOE
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCObzzHvtr
to join your order at such a young age?"876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIMq78ha0e
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab6wRQuy1a
Serene876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEczZ8SxYU
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81RGt1CugF
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFbOObP0vX
provide for me and my siblings..."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNuuczT7Ov
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEnNo3Oh1K
"Is876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErWoM5svfD
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHul2NcbxSe
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdTe2uL6I6
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDenYM4bf25
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwBab3yx9O
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTcU3Nq6bi
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlPresvQ1Z
Serene876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAM1PGIDG4h
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXD0UtYtKB
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySbwypIHtY
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXJ4FO5A09
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRsfqwjMOz
"Do876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVMimsNBxm
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkttkpQFuqz
leading them to ruin?"876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiZyuV8KL2
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUStTTGZuOk
"Yes."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrWa7Pa4CN
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcR1Z19vpC
he would've stayed or not.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqCGlrx7Ki
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpMzpkpdhd
"Very876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2o0frbv7C
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg34ueBj1e
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEDZZMJ37k
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOk0kBXzcT
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxReARhWGZT
"I876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRzPes5D1Z
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukeqfZ79bn
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn9zZVmVtD
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDOQQXxJIz
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK8keLUEJq
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWduS72cHa
"And876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfxWmZAqsu
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERYRPU3EpR
perfect in your role?"876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi1akO2BPU
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkGdRJ1Im7
"I876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2mfudDTmo
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFnMjBtc6B
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWBGaIHBer
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZixIVO8Ed
stand by them.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEQOMA27Ec
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDYtj0VTDd
"Good."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSAtROs3ej
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXduVpFgft0
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXIMEzVkmn
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIpfsIHFOH
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDxcTrsaGm
"This876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzA2pcUFLq
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RHcSCQJlX
why did you decide to rest now?"876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuuFlRha02
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02Lr0GsleC
"Because876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9CbJyxLI6
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccvzRxpiCM
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WSpuAgGWw
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEOEhiWXaE
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAQNnpPj7v
"Any876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWEp5kHBB8
last words before I begin my judgement?"876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfLamddWlq
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMY22i5BXK
"No."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJ2lXKGtcP
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0rELztZGa
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJhxZIXKTp
"Bongzhon,876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImHP3Ip4fD
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQi5ELPbDw
rest."876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHulJLD1LR9
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ljlYYuxlv
The light876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstyOEIrF7J
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoa2CoH4TYl
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEovST3i6nY
time in decades, happy and in peace.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi52sRXXNi0
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiulF4YE27
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0EYGpZQlq
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRvQCVgshN
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MeC7jNugk
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydRuRlcBs4
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeVzMLUavU
876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjTak45KVn
