794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRASLrLpMm
So this794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawrlk5MKXR
is finally it.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PIhcBdX1V
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyG5QGp9Yg
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNRRM90LbF
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi39CUfZgp
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscrD4BGNTH
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bhYW3y7ng
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJ1sMqi2ti
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjwonxPabn
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUS7TMde1U
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9gJ4UOseO
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhuRyZqnzT
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWaVg0hE6Y
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTQyHX4X4g
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKP6lAGbjCe
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVQTkabMds
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJkUPgLPpA
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1j9TMWHP1
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcabuQaHBs
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfbcqKaeEl
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmsqK0fv9b
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJC47Qb2G6
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKslZOqNln
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VaHipfIbo
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPSswD9EQu
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgG7fa9NUw
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OG9qwBWZL
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2Frn2ARlE
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JMdvnUYIq
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIz7QOEoGl
him."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f2z9cDgJN
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWybWz1YgAL
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjDKwNLvm2
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLv4OqrR2g
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpRqBlLYqE
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNYfcIgMLt
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxxsvZKGVQ
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8hjORmksm
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaViZVIctiv
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJWjbst69U
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuezF8oioKk
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CpDBoGoZc
"You may pass."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uSenwDThB
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXH19FQHZ5
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9OXMUQxIr
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlVZP2K9ps
Serene794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Kj3prtQ2I
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr3gtiS9i4
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL9aPPU7VW
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnKTp4Ugb8
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1BrqmhSpv
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49TghnPeHp
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYTJODgleX
But the794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehqf50vxBj
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ont0KWA1T
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5XE2KN24S
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0bCPFhG0A
longer. He had to keep going.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EujgDZSgP
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKJiMbM9XB
First794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVbqTaG8Uu
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKhJlGjFGa
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4bBJ8PUdL
temple with their grand doors open.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYv0QQsuob
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxrNpEo6br
The first794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKErl4DRtd
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0OWyOUQbi
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMkfeR5DjH
light leading further in. 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjD1TotQZ8
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP545paBYij
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveCBra3XhU
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dx6aw2ulo
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc7V3X4dQG
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KSkj5fw5R
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjynmXZptLK
trapped.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5RiDGFbCk
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRJA5b3AMm
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiINmgUZWsD
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVWxKp428x
"Calm794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbb7mNnRAce
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGwGRvzIOL
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCkqVTvXwP
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHxzQL5a6s
words under his breath he followed the path of light.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QLzUCSjIa
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmvYLfqhLY
He walked794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOJAaSbhXr
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U0Duhieie
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB3JunWkSe
light, dwindling it down. 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQhuXu9FPy
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrgrW38B4N
"Enough."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ovVrieFKj
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQIPq6RdRg
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCzoGyEmSe
the darkness and there was only light.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49MPfVptIo
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp8doaPjzn
"You794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4tZTq0Rhv
have come far, Bongzhon."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPno4lqznS
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VI6vMLakB
Serene794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQrSg73ici
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85GIlgUfgh
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0gpiYbLcm
"Come,794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaTJDCaqt7
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGvw9603Lm
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOTqFvCiQ6
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV5pSX8666
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXh8QoHP6k
"You,794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHXaDLpM7Q
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2xUXq7Ttl
judgement, whatever it may be"794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeevDedihOx
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtktN2j50yg
"I794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9EeMPn80O
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6fUZISeF5
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeovISDP5N2
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCmse6msRF
"Very,794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnp9KzMVYDF
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHsaAK5NeM
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq9wcPJRQI
and a small boy appeared out of the light.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp7PZSqBdm
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd0fqFHkcG
"This794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PRKZN7YrH
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Am0tEErDO
to join your order at such a young age?"794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpmhK9G1jn
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8e3Hker7l
Serene794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBCXsnDPEp
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uFy8NTof4
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8lnfxdgKy
provide for me and my siblings..."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5gS2Lb9wb
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo57QBLWvN
"Is794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqn1XqJ8x0
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXwx4VSqQ8
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIr9jfuo3W5
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQZsIYR2AD
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffd1J26zU6
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxZPrj9jA6
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYLevlgYPP
Serene794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukL0AICEqf
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA26IcDjML1
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcyZviVzPf
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Qf2Ua9Qlr
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk9zlOsI4F
"Do794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7Wbmhxubk
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnu3ImJ7q3
leading them to ruin?"794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzj9n1QKrz
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyedRvhDvF
"Yes."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhiWwrD1DK
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsB80lcgUd
he would've stayed or not.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwUk3hnJif
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE0E1qzWry
"Very794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBro0fFxslY
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5S48xH11f
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRGxBFwO4e
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r1qWeSLmp
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6h89x2zR9
"I794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHl67AkQdPG
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNfZxvMhkl
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEPKUmtZnM
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor82seFzzy
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpfzVDk1zF
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPI0TAbe1L
"And794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcBAGcfCR4
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgZCMdYrmk
perfect in your role?"794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFCsnXGfZD
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Sm1LfFNCr
"I794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOJR6bYXs6
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AhFiDfyAj
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqx9INVUwjW
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoD6Fv6h7u
stand by them.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGTnHRRkBL
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmf1dCrMH8T
"Good."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuIfjHBbyy
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MjPCA5Dqi
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFUJgH7nxf
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQBlaPNBI4
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDP1tZJCbH
"This794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOKHiDQ54P
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguKbSedGQW
why did you decide to rest now?"794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sbvzRW9qr
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsYr4DxLB5
"Because794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3D3xLUwWU
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29MxuBFpsg
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUhj9Z1G9M
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDa091B5mu
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpjI7AjYDk
"Any794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRkGb1RkLF
last words before I begin my judgement?"794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUQVN2dJrb
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXFFqtl4Vt
"No."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAqlMoPug4
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyD1ho2J51
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcwua7Zlbd
"Bongzhon,794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9vaTQaKQt
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uY1xkUOTi
rest."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUqyiYotYR
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBl0oNHOLdG
The light794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml5s4fF8AB
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUJ8t8mqGm
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtX3eredIdE
time in decades, happy and in peace.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEdfHvw0ku
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjFXshHIfj
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2cpSTHD96
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7YbK5cdbj
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9gyRfScOE
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUibHEsXjwE
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcZVAiopmz
794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6qfSgbuAz
