804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BJgUFo949
So this804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡait030Qw5w
is finally it.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmFvu9A1vJ
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcOL7ak7cj
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPLxsDyRiy
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbUN9QcJfT
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg6crPQymZ
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjK1dqCxFq
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF6Lf5eYUO
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNldsQCMLG
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdJ1Fimgn0
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKIFWQw17v
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYYl4kKOtS
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaKyr7hTFa
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2L6V2dj6y
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE7Svawp5r
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcTdC2ZVWF
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bSE11ocTY
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dYBqmGFJb
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcZ2XWbISj
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheM8O6Ic4P
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCZTgNJv6J
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahHmsnLDFD
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96xlMVOb5F
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrC7LACNJq
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Wckm4mNRy
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7XpjODTHI
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzaqDPcEsr
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf1Xp4AJNv
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsj4PxqRjH
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkozAjYl44O
him."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep93X6zvU5
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPONg5WYgGS
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs9POe2Pnp
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGd2qwH7Uo
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VHMw70qTh
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTGV2Q7doA
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOQJM881AY
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QRMMvY0r5
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJdispICyp
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJenas0I6hx
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM63sqhvzA
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKu1M1CmW4
"You may pass."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB923YCPxqZ
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4vrh3CAhh
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NG2pIxhzE
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oGiU9HXJ0
Serene804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6N6jwlDdy
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0b0Yr0Y9g
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWu6R5DRKa
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLP1zp7u9h
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOx9oKfgjW
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOThC0cXqI7
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaI6p22MRH
But the804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8juWdpvC3d
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5GXhvQv5p
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iYtOI3pGe
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN8v3aK9bc
longer. He had to keep going.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yKPm9lOdW
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjy8es5EiaI
First804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfQaeoVnTC
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6urI6fJ7v
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GJj1QaeHS
temple with their grand doors open.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3x3VT8Bw3
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCdJwkx2Ar
The first804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtttZNHzOfR
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yGPlmpN3H
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXedWeHdDA
light leading further in. 804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzV2I1StQSS
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ66DXMqPtF
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yL5PqxhGY
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICxDXRwn5R
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZfdKYMPQ2
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqeZsM7wf4
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGTOVyCq1Z
trapped.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRudJxGvcT6
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1PzK4jCt9
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiA6642QGK
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzcNEnV0Mw
"Calm804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBXD8Y3iXF
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNRENPGC4L
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hZSGy1qUs
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qIjeH5doX
words under his breath he followed the path of light.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2yah8JaAu
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8b89HKbBS
He walked804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmylrb6XMeO
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyVMFQmh84
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0CrvZSCUV
light, dwindling it down. 804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqBAp6neJK
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYLm418OGm
"Enough."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd4lz2U5h2
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1gjSU6a2G
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78FU1zfyZr
the darkness and there was only light.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw65PNHJYP
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAb7EHpQhs
"You804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4fKonfa96
have come far, Bongzhon."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80sqrSDC1U
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL04luctjG2
Serene804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19em4mZhNN
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vwrBiGJQL
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IKyS6OBZE
"Come,804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmwWJccmE9
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ60Jw14cKf
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVreorwp7lR
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJ6NVImfHy
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6VmBMbUHG
"You,804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKYr5cM8LT
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIkEKvpikD
judgement, whatever it may be"804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0zSQXS3ln
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjrqCbI5vS
"I804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXFZWnFnkV
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb61G77Sq8m
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJgYbvWj6n
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKNGZlYhMB
"Very,804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9MyEAI2Yz
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoto92JB9uF
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4Yzw7PXFo
and a small boy appeared out of the light.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA7DSDR15m
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ805lqqgJhB
"This804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpY2euWA08s
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFACw72ENM
to join your order at such a young age?"804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2J1XdufMM
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ9b8Y8Fxu
Serene804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f16X2dCJh
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyvfWvl6wV
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPn5YBAYB7
provide for me and my siblings..."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsQqmL23V0
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjrWKd7Dke
"Is804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJYP5XtIHC
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw14waI3gYS
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wftOYRK5L
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRmN0FFdof
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaLRcdZGty
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG26DfkgWo
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopNOzh1UAB
Serene804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD0oR45XUq
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLcFHvRE7R
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGMAEyYPn7
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkV2O86XoMQ
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ2nGAiVSA
"Do804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr9SoQhbvB
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFK5PDjgtFg
leading them to ruin?"804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLYcRet3Cx
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFPV9Ws7T6
"Yes."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ79WEx7fUr
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6fy62OgTq
he would've stayed or not.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRPM14Dsid
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNMLQsiGDk
"Very804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkao8uC9Lr
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g0qoLaAUG
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WIGD1gmHJ
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHFvytXx1D
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEB9GIDnPk
"I804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00AOF3tIof
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeFLpEJNHi
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWWCATpe5U
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBZVL2cOUa
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWWHBLCQH2
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOmXzLqxdc
"And804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI5FbhYylv
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH9O7bm5Rp
perfect in your role?"804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OINP9UdA3
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4vxOZlski
"I804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJSwTWOsaw
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmjNNv0PXp
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytoHIz0ky3
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TsB2PZGIG
stand by them.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiim746cPUt
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzY0UeHra7
"Good."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1Wcdy7asK
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXwLcMmxfC
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGowVoqRr3n
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgfSykukwh
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Xvf5QlRnT
"This804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiZyeCagCv
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N3H3dNpWz
why did you decide to rest now?"804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzDWA7xqMX
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItNCaO7lgG
"Because804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLgDg8J6YN
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zoYYYt9u8
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmULdaYIJo
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEVUNxFvvK
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3nGFz9yTg
"Any804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpAdX9uikd
last words before I begin my judgement?"804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm1AaPYDZY
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMS4k4ciLQ6
"No."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QDYtL9RYv
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCa2ywDvxl9
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKImSBuqO6
"Bongzhon,804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACEPYQ7BEC
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsAmI3xRdv
rest."804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQU2U9aJnR0
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP58gWUVJVf
The light804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Lkp8vhsau
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhywA6vH22E
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmniLQejHcj
time in decades, happy and in peace.804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5BT9QGkQk
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MgZYrfb1q
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpt4CpkkfT
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeAIQCUJBb
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK8CiGFerr
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL6Qoc9QcS
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpEZUC2Xk1
804Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDM2mQF4be
