912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWkNGvZhzl
So this912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRLmJhuwQC
is finally it.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVUTuMwHwO
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdBo52yU55
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBn82mwFbS
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW9yuW4SKJ
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbc6JbozeN
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEQ1pBZgom
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBrdhM6YEx
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn7oq3iEqp
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdXUsBFpTP
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgFEFgo88m
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbYoZPgYOt
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QdMsuOCKJ
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvrpfuPEJX
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGo8eaeP8Lo
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVjGwhBI6j
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbbu8y7c6O
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6MSjAOhPf
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPmJpJmZ40
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0lmZmHCtm
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8T19HZEi3
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbElpUM3yxj
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc13jSh750
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIumdpVdpO
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0t4KUiBDm
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWKmzYogJT
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAhF2w1Pek
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMgMGxwG1H
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bZzsYjkH0
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFv8uamKRFJ
him."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg7K1AG2Pi
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhk3v2yNrR
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmngmfN7VW
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ8ehkLxkb
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4kSoNBOGs
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQVtAiwhhF
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdGEYIKKpJ
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBFDLooJxO
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tYI0IDdOY
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOOdbWVHRc
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhI7oisfyu
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbsuVUPrCU
"You may pass."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQDP50fDuQ
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxrzJyCLno
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIZhSKp3m7
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJSXFGGGnc
Serene912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk2GC2HI5X
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HIwNPk5Eh
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlIpuGT0c8
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4e2rndBpZ
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRqwk0fMHQ
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswL6r9chqB
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhFK5Ud2Sa
But the912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjVMSru9uj
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjJgUotGer
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefnVQI4r58
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuj5DKvv3F
longer. He had to keep going.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkL0FMoigl
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnI01leuxw
First912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9v997d7rL
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DYreL90n5
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J4ojBpuDU
temple with their grand doors open.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV3S5JlocT
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYJO6zXc38
The first912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPc0OpfRgw
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLSvTuhT6n
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jABBlKxV3
light leading further in. 912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJexrsqp7w
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolY3XuyPDL
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B4MdSJ3DK
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLqrC0NoWM
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aUAfYJH4O
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43X8XoI8Wo
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYon5CWOg12
trapped.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5NeiaNLO5
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bsC00Gbib
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NIPI8A8IW
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ebdfc10e0
"Calm912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6GD9ak6Bo
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqFSi2q8v3
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhf9x3PGylb
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5RzK2YLGJ
words under his breath he followed the path of light.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJE1H6ySQTN
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSJFOBFulD
He walked912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG6Qb5Z2wn
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFxI8PjLP9
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx488u5ZB9
light, dwindling it down. 912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsSHyazZOo
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqER5vxEYH
"Enough."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D4rnE71pg
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf2LDFM5VV
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlb4yYFUMN
the darkness and there was only light.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPNYIar9vq
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdl0uXzuqp
"You912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXNF0iQLWT
have come far, Bongzhon."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojoHQxpeIl
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrpxIVlpFS
Serene912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6QqSDNXv1
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNycVhrU8mf
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwI34WQhWoc
"Come,912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcwad0kYLd
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT2SIRgLET
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehpMUf9lBU
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSzXY50o4s
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm5yoF7V3h
"You,912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaMd8L4OmM
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mVkj9CN4K
judgement, whatever it may be"912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEYWb9JTUk
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnodEDgZeET
"I912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZRN8oattj
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvz3ZM83qS
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhYOP85jQh
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprUJy7Iy1z
"Very,912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57ur6ly2JA
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1Nvx3Y5QL
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI2ASB1TTa
and a small boy appeared out of the light.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUvn5HJ5Mv
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGbbEhwuP9
"This912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBVKLKXbI5
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa0EeDJfjV
to join your order at such a young age?"912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcu7H0hhHl
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HXyXTdR0y
Serene912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwMUyaq3br
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FvfjWiuXR
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5e8Eu8Qy0
provide for me and my siblings..."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg81rv0mo8
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBkGyl499u
"Is912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84ExW5q1Fs
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdKdUlpMl6
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpv7APlmCx2
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTIbzIoo1B
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdv9cifOtI
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHXkO1VcYr
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiLrDmqlNL
Serene912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFq6yYU4Ts
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMt44QtAC07
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkEmA064fx
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHwfXAM2Wl
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5VfOv1G4e
"Do912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98imWjDgWP
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQYfY1ELC4
leading them to ruin?"912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5Fvp6DcMK
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojM8ugBD6m
"Yes."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡollu6E8qo9
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnvKox3lZ3
he would've stayed or not.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfHD8JDKPV
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpn4Xo8osR
"Very912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomtV7gVA3e
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BQPmkeFbO
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKVyUqa2Qv
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FV7ddTqOP
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ979djE6RFD
"I912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXt0EgaWdf
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnQdnl1FG4
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoZThA1RuG
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8QgnDzKgc
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa93vClxY7M
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXb3ZKoW25
"And912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg42PXMTzUv
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACBDfqeDGx
perfect in your role?"912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLZgDijd55
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNdiEUm7jf
"I912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYs9mr50ij
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYNQn0Kf3w
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fKURLKXm9
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEJ0OQPCiu
stand by them.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGCn7fKDJg
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8w4ahMsLR4
"Good."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTJBnUt3AP
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1mBfLm0nP
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2g4XfFjwUA
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczQ1APvwkI
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZQTOF2Gnv
"This912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIzYN6hcF1
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1n3uXQWx2p
why did you decide to rest now?"912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hCO0Q5oZH
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliE2LRVkWn
"Because912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhfWHlCINV
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgncGhMHUU
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9GsQ06rrR
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqXfq2gBUd
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1aL2o99nk
"Any912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYwiiTzTZs
last words before I begin my judgement?"912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZ873wPGC9
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBz4JKp7dp
"No."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGj2FgUBTN
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PdI48RKC3
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsGcNknelv
"Bongzhon,912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzCkUpNFUt
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooz6GgKAXL
rest."912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHMr6aUeEq
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsenXi2tE9
The light912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMXKMLp4hX
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OC2ryTqKo
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiy6OpSwBa
time in decades, happy and in peace.912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgwA1O15lf
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CFdPMtxA1
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmuEJjeqsS
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3Q6yhbBbv
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOsBSvE2bF
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CTiKdQHg4
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKWTk6a7Ud
912Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaC13S2zn7
