883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo2PdlfyZr
So this883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyu3yeBfzI
is finally it.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV7l09rPVj
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3U2vgZ7w3
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJGnOsQmtM
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IvFOOZwvn
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToKURGgZZZ
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYelve9GPf
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyv1MgSEfz
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ879fH7DYJ6
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrZhrsiNF0
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCZaM28ULR
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6EMqdzzyP
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFXStiyDfg
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTDhXxSIkf
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYbVQjCvmo
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMYFCXQfDY
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76PLcQgVlK
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaztLfCPgm5
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4JfY5Cy7c
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdgE2OAIVH
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3CjpFndAd
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPzNtJdWyo
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpDWOOWO6J
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6alw4DDJZf
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWwMEAdZNr
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50lQzdcJSk
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jQDTPJbtT
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0qWSVdqTe
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIdXMRlB9x
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxPZHVSAZJ
him."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0T8KZc9QT
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYoW0kZXq8
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWe0zv1ewKZ
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrbCOsokEZ
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGStiKXVzgv
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PT2R4UMBo
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla7qYYYDvO
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dWFI7yYeW
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWyjjDFtFO
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTts7eQFSUW
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZDstodqvY
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDLRhr0M3L
"You may pass."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoYnfWoWWB
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoPSzRQdpt
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEbKfqtsG6
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIn1Dd0r2U
Serene883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90UELwt8eA
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMde90juy76
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBcCGY5OcN
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVVmqtx9xn
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMReBwPoyL
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXSSkGXW1B
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiojGVOpji
But the883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xQRnfVC9A
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwIMIo1zwB
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHcNGaKhM9
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqjKiFn0PA
longer. He had to keep going.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmURPfwEhCO
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwwAsuIu5t
First883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYnbsGk7Zv
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhplSlPs1Tg
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0OJ1RNs9o
temple with their grand doors open.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58dh8Whwwx
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB9DSyf42e
The first883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzPTIv3Y69
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC1UcLk8W0
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdGFSz9HwR
light leading further in. 883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnvtDa5dVS
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlYeWKz0BM
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PhYv5Slz6
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxWHqvNzJB
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx38vMgoQ6
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2m7ysamnZ
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmu9gOZt21
trapped.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyvLgWzR3o
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i0E18NSgg
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCYTBbXBID
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Y3p2YN2wj
"Calm883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kRQHarvlc
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGUAX7d3nz
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6tAx0GPt0
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqtJZ9XdBb
words under his breath he followed the path of light.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hqSK1S2Ts
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVGh1DIYj0
He walked883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmeqdmrzbU
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvjDWAGK65
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zqs45xjIC
light, dwindling it down. 883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDFIyRlWR3
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJid3yMvWzz
"Enough."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dntRCqxVW
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeQkgBvez8
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0SCIXfGG5
the darkness and there was only light.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4XbPubiUd
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4CMgkmj3U
"You883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gLLRtlS0l
have come far, Bongzhon."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvyym0rGjv
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDTT7YvmTu
Serene883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIRO3DG0TO
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLBsdqMVcV
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRdlTLMecN
"Come,883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSJyZrimDw
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOrVmDnlfe
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2PXBoshy5
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKj5aI28W8
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrY0GUaXON
"You,883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW97nTiIYU
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz5kb5GLW9
judgement, whatever it may be"883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5HD9LjPKP
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoYu3fLVxh
"I883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdQKyUobaG
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmisr6E81M
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrjJgsMI0H
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH83tCQr2zA
"Very,883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsocnUwVqiy
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffS6NUe8WG
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CMnEI66Hv
and a small boy appeared out of the light.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zBYMSIdbw
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmonLFHNA1D
"This883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1DUFdqcVd
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkXgSyYqzu
to join your order at such a young age?"883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcZM3aGOKA
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5ZHChmcwq
Serene883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxUrRMkmis
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoguHcTcx2K
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aGx9F1y3c
provide for me and my siblings..."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKT0jLdcHBg
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIUa0Ql4kS
"Is883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xOwnBruko
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVYXKhMtLW
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7cApn5zHp
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqWOFtZFrD
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCQ9gLXNDa
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof4GwBALhn
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwgS5axKA6
Serene883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3oMSwUkh9
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqZbcpJdf8
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqz6il8qzVP
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D9CgKxRwA
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoltQJEkxDe
"Do883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfERKLcQZtk
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Vvy7b6KGx
leading them to ruin?"883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHemq1hPr8
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDGLhD8Q4c
"Yes."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99AjqEZhaR
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFzZ1DF6eB
he would've stayed or not.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9EBk1sSzy
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2esfCIdt8X
"Very883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6WVPGU8ki
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGrR59fHG5
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqfa6pD2Hz
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyXFZOHDAv
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRP3SxgoIE
"I883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiEAo279i4
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0gUxRntzq
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0CY4RsST4
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mehyLd07y
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4eZ25xljS
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsyDcO2cxG
"And883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5OVo8qpVO
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5jbxDLQQu
perfect in your role?"883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICG84pOG1I
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo68NrFH5F6
"I883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7HjHUvuT5
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1f3ZKkhmF6
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSPdDcbosx
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2upeXoyxHl
stand by them.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8d3zuRkbJ
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0uce20V4Q
"Good."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHX8JLkuPTO
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nvxGaT9x9
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYocx1mQuQr
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBU22JnIEX
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbwC31QKmU
"This883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurPkQKLgpW
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9PNNnq099
why did you decide to rest now?"883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSC4rqNF4t
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSGJZcFwD4
"Because883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvtSzORiv1
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjdOa8mx79
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMee09hEeg
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEdj3QrSur
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1R1alA3GC
"Any883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1zyxy7cE3
last words before I begin my judgement?"883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNbUADaf6T
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMjFmrGVZZ
"No."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xQxru2W0J
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8zKP8MIvg
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaKPslW4ZA
"Bongzhon,883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AiBmRypPy
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACu3CjvvFK
rest."883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfripCJX7Dp
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3USMUapp5
The light883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjt8uSZK1h
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2NoOF4CLT
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB2HJC0948
time in decades, happy and in peace.883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZbMz38zl4
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr53lMu8NHt
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyzLBAEfzk
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mQ5AT5m4j
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlMGK7oXc7
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSBaZO8X1a
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqcd20THLF
883Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmztw4WBbdO
