605Please respect copyright.PENANAeUtNPSngoK
So this605Please respect copyright.PENANANUajuz4dLO
is finally it.605Please respect copyright.PENANA948exe7eCQ
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A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and605Please respect copyright.PENANAGPHLzi4GsJ
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to605Please respect copyright.PENANASaty4yuvcn
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.605Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1sYg4Ude4
605Please respect copyright.PENANA9Y9qBCjReT
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Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to605Please respect copyright.PENANAmfPkjyRFP7
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.605Please respect copyright.PENANAAf6Be51a3g
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,605Please respect copyright.PENANAR7B8GYCkxv
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...605Please respect copyright.PENANABoatcUTjX6
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"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last605Please respect copyright.PENANADTL9ZveIBX
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for605Please respect copyright.PENANAaPWceGkayL
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate605Please respect copyright.PENANADoG7oEbugg
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.605Please respect copyright.PENANAKCtMUoGUlg
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"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.605Please respect copyright.PENANAKL78jrgw9v
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"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before605Please respect copyright.PENANAwgjyLtVM8M
him."605Please respect copyright.PENANAMTHSBbN4Mm
605Please respect copyright.PENANA8xxMAM8lfX
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605Please respect copyright.PENANAaCSTCwGq9I
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.605Please respect copyright.PENANAdztCFoVbvv
605Please respect copyright.PENANAcqout5AWqe
605Please respect copyright.PENANAo84GhxqjFg
605Please respect copyright.PENANAjX6FZNGMof
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."605Please respect copyright.PENANAYBhh3VhZcI
605Please respect copyright.PENANADV2TEZCMyk
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"You may pass."605Please respect copyright.PENANAn4ncLhKPE4
605Please respect copyright.PENANAtbuiPZdYyn
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Serene605Please respect copyright.PENANApfFETCFWrC
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but605Please respect copyright.PENANAdGFv55YC73
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big605Please respect copyright.PENANAmfZQRQH9ce
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 605Please respect copyright.PENANAlxZxsI055n
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or605Please respect copyright.PENANAEsT5EOFQJT
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.605Please respect copyright.PENANA9z6V4VEq5Q
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But the605Please respect copyright.PENANAqJjcwT6DP8
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way605Please respect copyright.PENANAdC5dl4xXg3
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but605Please respect copyright.PENANAA9BC6PWD9D
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any605Please respect copyright.PENANA2LWFGyBXiq
longer. He had to keep going.605Please respect copyright.PENANA4dFMcO5LBT
605Please respect copyright.PENANAZPMZR7TGji
First605Please respect copyright.PENANAasjmrxOmWx
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.605Please respect copyright.PENANAeg9ZAAkHIR
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main605Please respect copyright.PENANA1Gcc2vf9hh
temple with their grand doors open.605Please respect copyright.PENANAHIRI7IwVYP
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The first605Please respect copyright.PENANA7YyBoZQXSd
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he605Please respect copyright.PENANAemdrxuiXAS
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of605Please respect copyright.PENANAXRF8CQVFIW
light leading further in. 605Please respect copyright.PENANAvO2L7AiEsr
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Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the605Please respect copyright.PENANArKqEW3GwAr
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if605Please respect copyright.PENANAKcJmhHuJZB
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever605Please respect copyright.PENANAhlJzuPKwni
trapped.605Please respect copyright.PENANAVgzhV6LBXS
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"Calm605Please respect copyright.PENANAlkmczxZwjU
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept605Please respect copyright.PENANAvWoJRfWG8L
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.605Please respect copyright.PENANAsZLfnuKHzg
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the605Please respect copyright.PENANAkhTNhyf6Yr
words under his breath he followed the path of light.605Please respect copyright.PENANAsXxaVpkKdy
605Please respect copyright.PENANA9iPfSUR1EY
He walked605Please respect copyright.PENANAw5aMNP9Yhf
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."605Please respect copyright.PENANAzvvZ1alizs
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of605Please respect copyright.PENANAWdbNYL0Ti6
light, dwindling it down. 605Please respect copyright.PENANAy90vGCNoO3
605Please respect copyright.PENANAMsXMPw0FFY
"Enough."605Please respect copyright.PENANAEkXVPRQx47
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path605Please respect copyright.PENANAl2A2kjqblC
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook605Please respect copyright.PENANAwtuz961P1U
the darkness and there was only light.605Please respect copyright.PENANARNNESa4L7Z
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"You605Please respect copyright.PENANA6W4TS9Cg21
have come far, Bongzhon."605Please respect copyright.PENANAvSIZnEyJOa
605Please respect copyright.PENANArO0EjrDQhW
Serene605Please respect copyright.PENANAuadsQsNeAd
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.605Please respect copyright.PENANAt1MujOEOfF
605Please respect copyright.PENANA5wCijaJugz
"Come,605Please respect copyright.PENANAoniUZfVR6a
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked605Please respect copyright.PENANAksjSwcn4ll
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,605Please respect copyright.PENANAs0SXYW0zsy
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.605Please respect copyright.PENANA2JM4iJGHgf
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"You,605Please respect copyright.PENANAKIZWkROirk
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my605Please respect copyright.PENANAQkVs8NriXC
judgement, whatever it may be"605Please respect copyright.PENANAk7DVRc8IK1
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"I605Please respect copyright.PENANAsAeCGOcHO9
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his605Please respect copyright.PENANATFS3pY3iph
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.605Please respect copyright.PENANAGEVz1ui2oD
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"Very,605Please respect copyright.PENANAKGcNC2jvn0
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,605Please respect copyright.PENANAItkFbYhbsp
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating605Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZPOf0OCn8
and a small boy appeared out of the light.605Please respect copyright.PENANA1TsUiy41L3
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"This605Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZrRGSJnrB
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide605Please respect copyright.PENANAMpN97zCmmF
to join your order at such a young age?"605Please respect copyright.PENANAkR5vEONtKW
605Please respect copyright.PENANAuSIhHupixi
Serene605Please respect copyright.PENANAlVGNTmZfJr
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more605Please respect copyright.PENANAfjMD1p2YZy
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to605Please respect copyright.PENANA7Pt9Y5ch38
provide for me and my siblings..."605Please respect copyright.PENANAXSCaUunUBe
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"Is605Please respect copyright.PENANAcUPnXODKab
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through605Please respect copyright.PENANAo6FIh5zYan
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have605Please respect copyright.PENANA09PfpT0Ze9
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?605Please respect copyright.PENANA6o83HNRDmx
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,605Please respect copyright.PENANAC86WiwUc8C
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."605Please respect copyright.PENANA7HsEwG6SA6
605Please respect copyright.PENANAazfv91g7OL
Serene605Please respect copyright.PENANAcNEc2Bskoa
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago605Please respect copyright.PENANAGA2EWEe70J
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of605Please respect copyright.PENANA35KbV0RpXZ
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.605Please respect copyright.PENANApIHkRDhbb1
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"Do605Please respect copyright.PENANAG8FYc3HFWJ
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family605Please respect copyright.PENANADsGDBr5C5U
leading them to ruin?"605Please respect copyright.PENANAV0JNjSWBlx
605Please respect copyright.PENANAYLUBpe8OCR
"Yes."605Please respect copyright.PENANAMAQAqsQtVj
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether605Please respect copyright.PENANA2dL8iLuvn2
he would've stayed or not.605Please respect copyright.PENANAqd3w1h2Llb
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"Very605Please respect copyright.PENANAMgrq2bVIZn
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well605Please respect copyright.PENANAgrTNNxMcKk
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the605Please respect copyright.PENANACvkhJKsOzT
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"605Please respect copyright.PENANATv6HNS6Cy0
605Please respect copyright.PENANAelBFf2ttfX
"I605Please respect copyright.PENANAvpJ6cRyKh0
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by605Please respect copyright.PENANA4tYbjBrZuT
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With605Please respect copyright.PENANAfcmJSkGjft
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the605Please respect copyright.PENANA3SyhdtKrjZ
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.605Please respect copyright.PENANAuzWbCoC0En
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"And605Please respect copyright.PENANASomKAvgJe4
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were605Please respect copyright.PENANA8lk5sOVe1Q
perfect in your role?"605Please respect copyright.PENANAyrBdqX59pF
605Please respect copyright.PENANAOrpV6qbS7V
"I605Please respect copyright.PENANA17GPOSDFsZ
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I605Please respect copyright.PENANA5OtE0D3RZJ
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his605Please respect copyright.PENANAF35a2WISxg
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would605Please respect copyright.PENANANQa6gBJ7S1
stand by them.605Please respect copyright.PENANA9mJjGD51E9
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"Good."605Please respect copyright.PENANAxKolbqxKSN
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent605Please respect copyright.PENANAeJ8GcGJozG
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both605Please respect copyright.PENANAcoDlSJyNAG
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.605Please respect copyright.PENANA4avpVmxvls
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"This605Please respect copyright.PENANAReFkqQh3xy
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,605Please respect copyright.PENANAQYVbvI0oag
why did you decide to rest now?"605Please respect copyright.PENANA06UfzpR0fn
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"Because605Please respect copyright.PENANA88jxMLAnkv
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a605Please respect copyright.PENANAd5HoP8SF6k
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition605Please respect copyright.PENANAZdfAWs5lCI
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.605Please respect copyright.PENANAnz0IDNSNeb
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"Any605Please respect copyright.PENANAg1ryBpOAMM
last words before I begin my judgement?"605Please respect copyright.PENANA41FWojIqxS
605Please respect copyright.PENANAxhVAscWbmz
"No."605Please respect copyright.PENANA0H4MFou5D6
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 605Please respect copyright.PENANACc3JkcjrM2
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"Bongzhon,605Please respect copyright.PENANAjOYDnp0WEr
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your605Please respect copyright.PENANAKKGAR4YrMx
rest."605Please respect copyright.PENANAFh6sgen0BY
605Please respect copyright.PENANAw7KI6KhscM
The light605Please respect copyright.PENANAuyxWG7YfRy
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt605Please respect copyright.PENANAg7OqZxogVY
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first605Please respect copyright.PENANA9DjH3oMYaG
time in decades, happy and in peace.605Please respect copyright.PENANAYi0E1ZhaWc
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