868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUTFrDZ4In
So this868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnXomFl2N8
is finally it.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdAj9ISytV
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19m8buSAnO
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoZPk1aOJK
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFvp9Vm0yw
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOWQzILKq7
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyFhA6b067
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstnUla9Nmz
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6VwltDZtg
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7TXc1fGDh
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyBKmNGz3U
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnRB4X9P5z
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3GsKbvyuf
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wxMPq6zmZ
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpICqp4gUC
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPpEWxi7xW
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxEgZit0j5
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoMH3JOgw4
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR8ojOceCY
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkyME8nzSh
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKSF3vdd3C
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y1PZOh7M0
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiYkpDXHv1
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWLq2ALu4L
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5vN0j6Ol2
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVcaktfo17
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdMfdmSBZW
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGZ3ZtvZ2m
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamwF0wVLxZ
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyWLNTsvfu
him."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuLaTH8i9m
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsDoGsJhou
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEqnHECKko
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqVTTryd92
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyEPesolmA
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuHHESlncC
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqAzNVqsbw
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO6KmEuVxA
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO4iIIABW9
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMgHlxfhaS
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUctKRfpnDI
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfZU4ifoZi
"You may pass."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHM599QCk9A
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJYZ4vWVCA
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZAixZYgQP
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfNu6RzZhD
Serene868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLQFJQHukY
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFa5ka5HBx
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUOPVy27Mc
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4WoMcgx1X
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD9kVW20xc
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKuGm1VC1e
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGF67aomAb
But the868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxqIJ57wUo
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlWvjrUGpE
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1URCa5sZ1
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndKjdRusHj
longer. He had to keep going.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSxieOgIDg
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jrAYlJfqK
First868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoYMDSKQU5
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn850RuHrlf
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwMrwdpjka
temple with their grand doors open.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDXgglNZt1
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpEa4H7Yj5
The first868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYMfhoJqFt
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd1Bqukxhk
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5Ikqql1Ob
light leading further in. 868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqkn2mb4xp
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EyiS4TXrL
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4sX8pGHMd
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7kEqEe7ZN
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbTHz3751V
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsJPpjOPQu
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3jD1uelxL
trapped.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRByTOS2a2L
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWp8YeATZR
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3epBCkQ9qw
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlv2NadFHsC
"Calm868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu4nJkAvka
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYbuwGm1eg
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLBLZIt9sX
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBc1amz8C4k
words under his breath he followed the path of light.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5MlZco4nx
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChkAmyjPRO
He walked868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4ds7tY3Qu
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7h1FnzO05
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t3HREkQxE
light, dwindling it down. 868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd7jpnJhe2
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4nd9klYay
"Enough."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF7iSNMjdG
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomXf0Vifyv
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHvjBwfxGT
the darkness and there was only light.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYdmTFgCR6
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVYj8QTCFM
"You868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyAciMsROM
have come far, Bongzhon."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbtc0P6y9e
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7h7gRD9mK
Serene868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmQPNv35WJ
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlSsXBqb6d
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLC0qDcDFIG
"Come,868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL99U5dGmir
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAEEDNkjun
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMVzM9wK5p
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fCT9A1zKI
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgnalZQrvo
"You,868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQrGoPzAna
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡap5jOkm3iw
judgement, whatever it may be"868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHFjejfGl4
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7cupon7IL
"I868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ETVtEFgIv
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBV1xjMPBl
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS44lhuZo2O
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjF4Lnpqjz
"Very,868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wq4eTNK9f
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9nO5GFIzK
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoXQeFBeYA
and a small boy appeared out of the light.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRK2YTSzcH
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlzFDPcRV3
"This868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo463WTDYPJ
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoI1pcX1KU
to join your order at such a young age?"868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm3KPbnSqA
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DcwpOdp8g
Serene868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3aqLorBRW
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLTXAMcTbO
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjIBOJrsgx
provide for me and my siblings..."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7ywMmNtEE
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrE6JR2g5x
"Is868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmUDfQPrBV
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgkMzfHadc
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn9VX1iABM
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhpvtRwj1E
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOUYofKU5L
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI64K9LUW7
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iCACAcu3F
Serene868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREnMRlH7SL
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfK2D8sFab
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IXzKW6CmZ
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNETEuepQd
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyb3cvvfjB
"Do868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiCS2zfi1j
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33yfzpnMwR
leading them to ruin?"868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1lvMa7BjT
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKfGsGJiDa
"Yes."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vOQcAN63Z
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpkQAzC5DT
he would've stayed or not.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡli8mK9LhtK
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVI72bR0LA
"Very868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NoGqIMBwf
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNtqm7lGDN
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepU5PTrzrF
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKa4M5zLzpD
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gXO8R4X9z
"I868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvef5QAViE
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP3MC2xjjQ
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wFhGDC1RP
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADlzwG7oBG
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueza1KJf18
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98ZQghP8RC
"And868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE7kbRfe3D
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJw0flvm6S
perfect in your role?"868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rZRsHU4gW
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxnSUbA9e7
"I868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4RTLY7Xv7
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1aUeCXuZY
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjHHCEvA3U
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaotIks6ZL
stand by them.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJStTgrYNV
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN9IHEBrLB
"Good."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uK75ee33Q
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjB1jBYltPl
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFQpJ1M9b1
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzjiLho8kf
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2qUnLAZQm
"This868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprON8DuaKa
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3lxL606WW
why did you decide to rest now?"868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi9sNJguxQ
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB40yKmO33
"Because868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImJqfZ8JEC
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpDwSbLMRK
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZVmF6SwXo
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqH1vhqiUC
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4oiyxXby5
"Any868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRt1f5cFo8
last words before I begin my judgement?"868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKgp0Z12nU
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqNp6GZrHs
"No."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2J0rsjpIG
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OOC7KQiQg
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5khQ9Nk2b
"Bongzhon,868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIpPu9Pj3g
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NcPbTWkn7
rest."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6jbUIl50w
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmcfoCmApV
The light868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6JYRkFx7a
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTWo78LPHy
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYleoJs5Gdl
time in decades, happy and in peace.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LbaRzP78K
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ks7Z0CnsA
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7dzXEJNX6
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MFO4KO1Es
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9r33A0jLv
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGSvwlrgjA
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolMgSB57TZ
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSB0olClUC
