909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQZhtIWnwi
So this909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCfUNE7Zto
is finally it.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtuqVDDqcW
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgyOoy2mSj
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEt47B3APd
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMaoOVkagE
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVHMNmfBGG
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaecgz2I2Ey
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGfEJvhun2
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjOh2iUmAs
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikchZPp7BL
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkyTc91d5Z
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjXKF6Nz9j
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwipp7adcv
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBZVp3BEo0
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46IzRiBO8c
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFllpnzqhl
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0Z8DRrFOz
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BoYx3G0AG
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTo4HTRm0R
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzccWQSh9b3
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdGiAXGFlV
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtin4iOELwj
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9UT27CNqt
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemYk0R3Whw
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBvm4a3TaM
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bEDKYjOT4
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRMsD15b1m
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdjN7nDqMv
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBINcmIMON
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElDCjSDqrb
him."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb2SwFAEeJ
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsMLlNsFdM
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkc6iErMSn
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHXQ68iLuC
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdgY0u7PO6
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnMMlrJenH
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPhaXIYpch
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImOLSppQUJ
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkNPNGzenS
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjakSrcR6B0
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QlqHI5ygd
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfW0NoZseT
"You may pass."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7ForUclDI
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu48Q557uKi
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQjjMxgPEm
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTisNKcIqlr
Serene909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrO6nPmlVwP
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sEMdXxlip
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQd7RxWIXV
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP71Msu3U1
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXkSY8ZtHn
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHLMA9ZBtk
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1RfbWN2E4
But the909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEpWnoW87a
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllIrsIAkBh
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLA2fwNbPE
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYxcLGyYCv
longer. He had to keep going.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZnsnHXnEK
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUiu26DWwo
First909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYbVurHyYr
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGvm5eTkqn
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg0RbyYL5D
temple with their grand doors open.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxNEw6Tt1l
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFVDF5RaS8
The first909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdu8cJ1Byp
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O6YAVpaEd
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEWvwySLqw
light leading further in. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4FQRGHdWq
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn26SfiKeyg
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTSnEIvYDI
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ090Fkdlwbq
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9A15DKvSLj
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp0k7DLONy
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQiYmThcTr
trapped.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURPkHSSJFh
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwQJtj21LU
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2HJQs5PFB
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QN97Z6m13
"Calm909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQkOSBE7qZ
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaUNrWqc2q
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkYLGfCE9a
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91iJ9bpHVH
words under his breath he followed the path of light.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhYjNbByg4
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI68JYi3qzt
He walked909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnr1v4XeOxE
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8ZwfT7jzG
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69YurbYsCC
light, dwindling it down. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOWzA4ldOe
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIhndgLgLF
"Enough."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIQIVHzMFw
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtcHXJ4LWS
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tMpmqxkJa
the darkness and there was only light.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6swkj46Wf
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSALyMylcaR
"You909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOW0ulUUba
have come far, Bongzhon."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe6GYT4L6j
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4CjG2Jk9j
Serene909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g5t5C1EQd
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyoPAAYJq6
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXzWf0sQsi
"Come,909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf50IsB7vx6
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YVLrUcWey
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBVBmSXO82
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgImD4H1gQi
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqne65vzmuE
"You,909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13xkDIi6M4
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmY5PugurkT
judgement, whatever it may be"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NpjoptfYM
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQQAYtxNsH
"I909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVZogDeH5O
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWONbwKS38
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVHZFCWsey
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNacl7H5c4
"Very,909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgZ8ZrSUbw
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJwr1hOW26
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxrlXL0peM
and a small boy appeared out of the light.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAT1J3vuTE
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj22OyihWyu
"This909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFqTN9kKx6
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSKQXyiXro
to join your order at such a young age?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HJZpI5xPK
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB1BxVBGSn
Serene909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FnPxcwtSe
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQFK11sTzP
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDsOLuZTtG
provide for me and my siblings..."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX1ojU9x0I
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAsBooZK1o
"Is909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19QHoCn0N6
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFx2jNoGj2
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAbXFJUrAH
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecClx9tvhu
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpZGb10dlt
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPkHXKZxcD
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE7fVl4kTw
Serene909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh0I5USyuj
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjHS53dDGO
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMdQgN9W4W
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtawBepKIf
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9CHaaiyB2
"Do909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRNO0tEVXR
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv3k4jOB9r
leading them to ruin?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMz6bqVY6Db
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYYb3V1LLy
"Yes."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQksj7oXTA
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbatsGcGUaR
he would've stayed or not.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zG3T1CW4g
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMr3mADRm6
"Very909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZczn5lOtyW
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE47LC0QV6
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHQhlSbIiE
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZUvN42cx2
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCPcesyYcL
"I909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulAzFSrBse
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OuyIEi70m
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHwKylY0hz
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ANAqV9yjs
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3ckZktTRj
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHExXJCfrI
"And909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfVj3RibTI
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSy3mPSEfh
perfect in your role?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXmVhjic9A
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKKCJf77et
"I909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5XOLfkAJM
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwezoqJJZse
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdcFAbom0U
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm16n9nKXe
stand by them.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYh8nx0Ymk
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfZgTv1GZ9
"Good."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvlxiwMSzK
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP05DZlc5uD
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6HbyqqPSU
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfLnjt38aP
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OV4zzILG0
"This909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoDUuAeUB7
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDrIuZelfL
why did you decide to rest now?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wNYs6uff2
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4uOsBZhpD
"Because909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDva94Fur86
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1daVH7MDon
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsYLKf2xac
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaiol2HaFh
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiknTNVXDT
"Any909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsHOCSca1L
last words before I begin my judgement?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTKvL9w5iX
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2XTF5U0kV
"No."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkUr25nXxA
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK0AHWhdwl
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjNs0JDF9c
"Bongzhon,909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc6IaByUyQ
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVBx56eA3n
rest."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ7IBymEk4
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqkFNra6pX
The light909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WNb8y9I5A
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQIJQmorC3
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzWDc0E2fX
time in decades, happy and in peace.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyLtsdxEq1
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrkX00aBTs
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7wA9Ti1nI
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQLJT3kK8J
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0NCMJQjkX
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIwo73eNBL
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7uJEnB7g0
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e6x1xoAZW
