763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd5wlLK7ex
So this763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OJyHsTdRx
is finally it.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIgxsy81sA
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPCZh9Q2nq
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnidw9pbWL
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUL4vnWTce
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ6LMYuXwk
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9jyJsXTPg
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLOch3lPaj
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPltZ3cw9D3
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxFRnIkM9L
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFGkVIC8u8
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJyrLstq9z
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzdJBGQGAp
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXJUI2Mzow
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5PQry9lpy
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0WtyZeCee
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujZrmhQZhe
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VJVP2nq5w
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjXOxZcW0I
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWBe9DWgso
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB5osOGc0Z
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqMdIqUR6L
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTHHMRXYr3
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKxwESbrG3
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflLwFDgsqO
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqcQVkyCfa
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEYytAwoZz
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJqurUrjZV
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h5HVR3gt7
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0MWmiUBmT
him."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1y1szr1hI
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqUdouUHdG
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v7FomXtGB
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkqACJUUID
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqmJ71hGa7
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNsJhDiYnS
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCyjHhzETl
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2F5bC8MWW
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qsYpGG2Hq
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniiT2HXEFi
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBICheYnIN
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtinAit6ai
"You may pass."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecI3v7rDHo
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQjRqUUw1N
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HEazQq8Gk
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFaiiY84Zm
Serene763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMFboDiLQe
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5l1PrECFO
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡve6XfKf4x1
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNvHvWSMYc
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzPiBINsb6
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s62jTuGY6
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyt7Xd0eVec
But the763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCxiniVorF
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5js1ulh7Cq
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl6t1UZIZ0
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSveoOzbdI
longer. He had to keep going.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudkAedW7Z8
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGrsRhLead
First763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgg7QBKn8C
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwRuMIIyXo
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUnS416KuT
temple with their grand doors open.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhx2zTVl2pj
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDwKRlvPsp
The first763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLanMD1eBk
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmtPkakgDx
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4RCDYOLIo
light leading further in. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0nxbvzqHp
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6MVdMoBY7
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JiuW6fjLH
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRwjROOHUa
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2skLsRTlR
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiHpG7Zea6
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZEWqaHqXm
trapped.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCtNMppDQ7
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbidvY0O5D
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUyMd0mZKI
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHkp3m08vw
"Calm763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY2iBSxtMJ
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFvDJuEsht
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0Bz3D4ihv
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHQuxksbld
words under his breath he followed the path of light.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbq4cWbecs
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29kYT3hdFC
He walked763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSYSTSAAXx
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWpnRUHHph
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd78IM4E7p
light, dwindling it down. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1yBYnrUm5
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w30IdIixj
"Enough."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXbXurupXo
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y5HwG5wmZ
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNFg51AEUd
the darkness and there was only light.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFsR5rQh4o
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOiLvcFvbh
"You763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxBytVsQt5
have come far, Bongzhon."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjc72lqyTZw
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxxKM3Xk0N
Serene763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF0sXmM4vW
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSISclW6jr
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarFDwWz6TW
"Come,763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3PUc3erfG
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6nWLVcjcP
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJymNjyXgTJ
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOlPLZ9uMz
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLKT5SzQnu
"You,763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB7TZ9e1fZ
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M8adMND9g
judgement, whatever it may be"763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jsdoMeXyO
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ850W9K149g
"I763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEj7Lg43D7
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAQfhgVBfr
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxO7kziGLc
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFZnHoics6
"Very,763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuS469GPxVC
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvGqkvB5tY
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWceF1dUva
and a small boy appeared out of the light.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzFMGXDyP5
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ34yYP6e30
"This763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCYhUFfbBv
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI0u3TO4j6
to join your order at such a young age?"763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZL4KSUXF7
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8J3uRpoIR
Serene763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpkvLlXK1j
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdKjoYqwIg
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC42SPtZ9l
provide for me and my siblings..."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB23aPCoes8
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JcyVPevh5
"Is763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiPrzeNKWz
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKgrNNaUO4
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyjKNdz87J
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OT33gi7zG
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNdXLW9ndC
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJUSZTTouH
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99ugFWw5Sv
Serene763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdCzq5rhoQ
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGUP9WWlWC
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyppvEXvGHu
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaG3zkfVis
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Cg9jJx5m3
"Do763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkrmfkqQNC
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33HldxLfj6
leading them to ruin?"763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT5VHZMHUV
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmY3g7CD5E
"Yes."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvFSl4zvLk
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNClK2e23Eu
he would've stayed or not.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYoO0WgGzh
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH5Rxsepwo
"Very763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWDMS0CiNH
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLASzrSceIP
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk6dwFJHUS
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw38JLqw2f6
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEl6M2fzDq
"I763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm8fc7ZmNx
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I7IWMpGLE
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ1dCDOPsK
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqIrRpgJuE
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlfokrCpPy
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ8LtKsTue
"And763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFydVbQG1U2
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMubUQAQUoG
perfect in your role?"763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW2ThRgGFe
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7bj6cCzwF
"I763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGZ3YBCBHV
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SaS0vxn9x
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXfqdjlRfE
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKir7hWYVcX
stand by them.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpj3ANVepj
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiz6mzBkRLi
"Good."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbKvktXeHh
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJA5dTCiB8
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bhTYfVskF
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGLRwDjPwR
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HjrpiZ2Wk
"This763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumQ9189ASi
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgGiNEArXN
why did you decide to rest now?"763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6t4Fm34dX0
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQAGkFJ6bY
"Because763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj2XJblz9y
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT258rhbbe
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulkZ79MjBi
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH90Sf2qWlB
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeee6ASJOU8
"Any763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCJHWmlw63
last words before I begin my judgement?"763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0m4dYieHl
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iomMxocqq
"No."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclvd5F8seM
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFWxMQpENF
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAuBAWsKBv
"Bongzhon,763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RCPUV2f18
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFxq9AiYCJ
rest."763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjOief1wQH
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTncbKbbw1
The light763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQZwJLshzO
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMslx4hasNs
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZpCJdwe93
time in decades, happy and in peace.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqe7AzAYtu
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqMdheer7F
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKvx6ux6Q0
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSzG7hR8UJ
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWGZQ9wjUH
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2HeqJ8Aya
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHN2hWqZty
763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XvsZ6oHZt
