886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsCiWHV5Vf
So this886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPCxAisO7d
is finally it.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60JK9Wjp2k
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJYWUN8NJo
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZgMrjLzrD
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYe7Qf0VxC
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvNyS6uwUi
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3AKNLsgyW
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4prRHrlZc
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ig5C2W9Qt
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmBPHmHHXx
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtbMqaMjCZ
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkbLmPj0wx
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKVVr6d8bA
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpPEUZQgki
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4V3NcgEWg
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX30sqZIWRa
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQw8E21t9S
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK0g0Vcbn4
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1UBurhjFA
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyLKBlJrMw
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM5zaDm4XU
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv814NhhNxZ
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBP2qsKKZ7
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRr3Fih4kM
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMswD3poOC8
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1L5jM9JjI
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrjt4J6TsZ
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG38miqcMcs
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq9wIStYWp
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HbByatamj
him."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpStwycOYkh
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkRP9elvah
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Lnb91u2K3
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyYxRLelFi
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A42zCfZI2
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7dmfXnogE
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10HJt31BOO
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuxr2fO1KF
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sB5BXp0SB
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUP0cHU7tI
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjNBMpAQmy
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5a1kfiUBo
"You may pass."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh006qqq1H
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK5XsLG5QE
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTcK33B0SI
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh5uZDeG4w
Serene886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWruxsaqz0
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3zuhchlFV
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8285wTZur
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAumj3alfyy
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoRYE31ihJ
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLQjrnsavw
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6UeFFMcBh
But the886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PwTRL8izs
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbOt2NJLT1
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadZpy6hnDo
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQjmV4Nlt8
longer. He had to keep going.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ2zQP5a8D
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93DdiL0xSw
First886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhFPfk4WfO
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24D9P3raB1
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChxHgKZUQi
temple with their grand doors open.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RMKdMwx2y
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41ZMThvi2R
The first886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HANAoK2I2
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB1DSoWtH0
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVBxCT2ClS
light leading further in. 886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCKWONbl2R
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FQZtwvlaj
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7FAywp4Sx
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3RtL3SPEp
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoa7FZ0Orp
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRbhDYAQ3b
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjMfoH81qS
trapped.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXfwz7fbIk
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvtPgdrRSk
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAPr1lvaQu
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5ojsZh3sO
"Calm886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqN2rsT1fl
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaP0rbIDBN
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy7G252nXw
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEAmLemaf9
words under his breath he followed the path of light.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtt0bRwVYh
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uOgnurJyi
He walked886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E1ZpcyYlB
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55vu70Sq5Z
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcd576D8sTP
light, dwindling it down. 886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwZXCLNChc
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T6f3Dsnc6
"Enough."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23bIoRdvLV
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87Nprm7G3N
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7QFQCO3XV
the darkness and there was only light.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYmi86QxjG
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tyuW28bAS
"You886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W61PVeniN
have come far, Bongzhon."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSU8YbQIMxo
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8g8bc6HLW
Serene886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVz09yhBTy
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3v6gpVLSJ
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M8vw5oB6Z
"Come,886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKty2RQ67u
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwBxN3UROX
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pEGSoeVQn
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7tFC2ASCa
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQndrH0imS
"You,886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyka9O5wO0
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bZxl7NRUC
judgement, whatever it may be"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjBjvTHX5e
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVq7yvxqRxC
"I886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxRHALljK7
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aCm8Po8lz
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zvlJoaBnP
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEqCfwd32R
"Very,886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML7oiyJgpA
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIVQu29NsJ
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoaTQUrpfo
and a small boy appeared out of the light.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Kx7TvLKBO
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMUCcQ6LSR
"This886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLReYZJRRc
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdWhfprtbr
to join your order at such a young age?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxkqO5jEbl
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrm3tKwIhb
Serene886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjJmkia6HS
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz67HJ0LOoi
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI61qB1iESa
provide for me and my siblings..."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRIthl6aNX
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWuPvoQhXz
"Is886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayu3x261do
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzGxoyxzPP
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnbvpGca8p
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLq9zATciO
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEv9g1yMQjK
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6tu3l0vrx
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pcOgbYsv2
Serene886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kjU7yuETX
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvNpIlx0C9
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIV1ELtRGn
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMjVCVrJrM
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArLfsIHZRn
"Do886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMYTHDvTzz
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7copyqNHC
leading them to ruin?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4MCxL6kfC
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6mLFin7Zu
"Yes."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvQCHLXdoz
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklodYqjUaG
he would've stayed or not.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItNUfHSd9S
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCf6eTJZM1
"Very886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2C4DH1LZ2
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nSl2icYfq
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0M0q2Scjq
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2ljmrvpeg
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvok4rgZDK
"I886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuxCzMKLeF
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpXNfpJbVa
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnupdLIePVq
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdz3h1Tl21K
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAzCJSnCkX
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMtRgImb4N
"And886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVqYK48vzw
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZebe8zJlm
perfect in your role?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2ulDaON5X
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8h0EzQogM
"I886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvPNWJrTPb
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3VOBGcaNL
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS6X98SBIi
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDSNj5o6Bw
stand by them.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYRlnSArZS
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT1sfdIk8J
"Good."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk4zXC1zIz
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdZu8wFzTe
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiYDK5xmj0
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKuEEeA7B9
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAGSwxnvE1
"This886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflIPs8lh1c
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKxXEia1no
why did you decide to rest now?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR0n0umS2h
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfkQPQov4A
"Because886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPihZpUryuS
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGEGjXH8I6
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29r5a6kYsX
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZPKUawgvW
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhCvr6Hd4v
"Any886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcSPHSgxFl
last words before I begin my judgement?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZo7okBk5QP
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7tcKxl3ok
"No."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ847P5aoaJM
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsWa4EC2K7
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrSIa9SfOh
"Bongzhon,886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KLXgipaRt
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdSSQ84hw5
rest."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsO32bn7j5
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL8JPOcny4
The light886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyvPm2krVQ
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpY3TaaRn1
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLus2IBRk6
time in decades, happy and in peace.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcviYEFvsrI
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdq16Y9rw7
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdpOk7EOfG
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrm9PDjpbr
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx333rcVI3b
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqGdDOQPtI
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCYoTWyM12
886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h9ywvXBVd
