777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDcUxoEmVf
So this777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GJeYOhW4n
is finally it.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtgpVqEAyC
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhADvr0Pb0h
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1vPEW8qLU
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlo1UH5bBXN
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS36ijauIUz
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUniqq9UmpB
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfzwjM01VE
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF9EiVlQpz
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4bu40XWNK
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnIDBkQUwt
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME5EkkQRsj
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuCDGo8nBB
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIC6xZcgP0
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGmsoYHBsS
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwvRr2j0G7
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DfrjkE5hd
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDTtywmUj2
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUX5HuUngL
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnNLThPNU8
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPgIUg78iv
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgKByEGavb
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dMNVsG5az
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VRNklOgRs
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VUpTzHgeA
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m99NgRVtu
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbOk8K7IbA
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AIwW2Ojiq
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZfJASBNGM
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLAxqlJNvt
him."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6GGCJ3BAU
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDbAtCiPRI
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8UvYGxhWJ
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3UVDdQS36
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWveSZq32gx
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1qJ0aXcRa
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS8VSayq1r
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXewpQxGp0h
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3TRyKRvvl
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcJgJwnPBn
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqwzhzjtvp
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLlhztbd9f
"You may pass."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ikjgoO1OH
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum4yxnNUyN
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5ocFe2cNP
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF5MUaVkEK
Serene777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOTjmLERaU
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzySGThycXO
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJgFdkEuy3
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99LTBBSDlR
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCHZgQEPDd
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgRM7xXjCS
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNOpWv2wFg
But the777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4BJjXGgLz
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpu1vLBM45
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLvsmd04mr
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6exPdPdeP
longer. He had to keep going.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW4ZGBMKaW
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9KVUw5vJe
First777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPpgjXB9jF
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrp8yVU0dCU
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUtl3zlS5l
temple with their grand doors open.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjwkrRDdnS
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnjzdMOHOV
The first777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfvzQey8FM
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnoCeWVOxr
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEmti5co0q
light leading further in. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl93Sr9A2o
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tT38BEXZo
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SWufQ7JYA
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrz21yAVYR
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbz0enXfYz
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfQgY89LFW
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrdHAZpSHS
trapped.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPnNeWOQty
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy78JfVAQW
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNFUhAOkBP
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhcZ5I6GWg
"Calm777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm5vVr0QMr
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe215th3KDP
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2bQ00kEet
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7F1moVUzn
words under his breath he followed the path of light.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83X3W4arZK
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI7GvEVeMa
He walked777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj9bAusy8S
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Rt4jh62k
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB523gGItn
light, dwindling it down. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIzGs9cmDb
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9t61ZtrE5
"Enough."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyq6OLfSQT
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnO4NxrRU7
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUH4lBR8kB
the darkness and there was only light.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3LlYWl2Mf
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEXoFBRgQD
"You777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5lEBlOWy2
have come far, Bongzhon."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXgjqvfjcb
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZ8jm01wZW
Serene777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcURblNITs
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXSCxnfNwR
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcU4LiOZxCE
"Come,777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe87R1csW3q
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfcQu63hrQ
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvRriSDL3E
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP43xU9RzgA
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeQSGCvgD1
"You,777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswgWGwmPxH
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjmroSLny1
judgement, whatever it may be"777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriQ5nVbjQE
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQNCSkYop8
"I777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUPwQfzUKG
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnCfZFlM28
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBOhIGvf6k
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MhG0ZtXbu
"Very,777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CBbrWWH9I
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzySFOVbWl
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLAs2L4EkR
and a small boy appeared out of the light.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wHdYODfLH
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1iWPi74P9
"This777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ5nXKwilb
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJK2z7CaGCH
to join your order at such a young age?"777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLya7VkPHv
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcS8Jqb3Ki
Serene777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7Uqjpq9xt
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlQClPmxlM
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapfvRUSCoT
provide for me and my siblings..."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUx2yhbqtI
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Rsw39HgDX
"Is777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJv69T9rJd
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuVcuRfSZP
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECWspMFcqI
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttV1ANMg4i
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp0o0kGLfb
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIK2NssV2n
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjV7FbMwabx
Serene777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKqlR8kFWj
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52PhuQSx9N
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6coFHP1Nh
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sGh9F5xs1
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cE44nHSEW
"Do777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnzfqfJ70N
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSmCrSoE3R
leading them to ruin?"777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE2U5wW8QQ
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k0wCd202Y
"Yes."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUg0WzK1N27
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYs0Qz5VFU
he would've stayed or not.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0Co0P1rbo
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmaSbkdrZu
"Very777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSHPt2rflE
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F6knELYrm
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI03RTD0vNV
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkYW95OOfw
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRFmMxuUbI
"I777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1q83nwNip
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF99qTlve1W
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCBUHl8Bnv
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXbadNRX04
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2kUpBRbBY
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54DAkjRlEe
"And777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuIV4lqOAO
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡne8SweEM0b
perfect in your role?"777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCrgwLULEj
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7vQTSdlvb
"I777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlg88UTyNg
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUhUzGFBwY
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYbqgVTtcj
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF18e4HbON
stand by them.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkWrM3nuyC
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBfiLzSyWj
"Good."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA3HCX3IWJ
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLGFUcZs0k
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3N7gPfpUw
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXT1HcHffu
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS4JrN5QWy
"This777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qYsHXiIxM
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfsaJEfUbu
why did you decide to rest now?"777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eNoKzkWnn
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4Yi6vc9x9
"Because777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNuEsDVIZO
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDbeSB3XCM
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4hrDZFueR
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nMOL0hWeW
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULnEWl5kFJ
"Any777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD2VSwMHYx
last words before I begin my judgement?"777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOayd0vX1dz
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvbr3FVdRm
"No."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo1RD03UMn
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqBhf97gUO
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpa8D1MYN2
"Bongzhon,777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz51c2R8kk
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBz0GhFgeQ
rest."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dkhQEHvPA
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4eF65x7wp
The light777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzuHehTnqm
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hn41iu3Ev
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKWhvAquYM
time in decades, happy and in peace.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bIpLYlqoV
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRHZHKH52g
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfBlkZs1jK
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWmsdq8TdD
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uVXRbG1XY
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiWAYJCcdj
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2rr5jhCd1
777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWElZjf7Uc3
