813Please respect copyright.PENANA0DFlEPILbf
So this813Please respect copyright.PENANAfO2fBAYLSx
is finally it.813Please respect copyright.PENANAGh4qS9cuzT
813Please respect copyright.PENANA8Hc2fp6kI1
813Please respect copyright.PENANAjtwqrabo8b
813Please respect copyright.PENANAlTmxJzzs49
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and813Please respect copyright.PENANA3qdb9HlIIA
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to813Please respect copyright.PENANA5mQbg2NnRQ
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.813Please respect copyright.PENANArKHsGFMFDT
813Please respect copyright.PENANAbCvUxBULMk
813Please respect copyright.PENANAeVCtIllESX
813Please respect copyright.PENANAfAXKJXe0ot
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to813Please respect copyright.PENANAJ18SxOXAON
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.813Please respect copyright.PENANAjZYhaylbNa
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,813Please respect copyright.PENANAh1OIrHZH94
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...813Please respect copyright.PENANAEWudwaOGlN
813Please respect copyright.PENANANQDR9U052u
813Please respect copyright.PENANAG1X85lU3eB
813Please respect copyright.PENANAjHAvViIijQ
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last813Please respect copyright.PENANAtLmGXimDwn
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for813Please respect copyright.PENANA8SqmJN43Z6
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate813Please respect copyright.PENANAqbj9OX55Ya
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.813Please respect copyright.PENANAbDy8MsyTca
813Please respect copyright.PENANAO3vZOcqoW1
813Please respect copyright.PENANAFqZloF9s5c
813Please respect copyright.PENANAOBEdwl4HBv
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.813Please respect copyright.PENANAvd7WNnLafn
813Please respect copyright.PENANA3fFrbpLJbt
813Please respect copyright.PENANAMMEWxUpUcc
813Please respect copyright.PENANAPHq4CKUAAL
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before813Please respect copyright.PENANAGXkL778Utn
him."813Please respect copyright.PENANAYoR0k9nKHr
813Please respect copyright.PENANA3xWXDSwvEO
813Please respect copyright.PENANALDbk6GKc6i
813Please respect copyright.PENANAEZXS51cIpg
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.813Please respect copyright.PENANATg5TvFxkmP
813Please respect copyright.PENANASRyaYfQeU6
813Please respect copyright.PENANACsqpncsKTh
813Please respect copyright.PENANAj1gr0NiZzh
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."813Please respect copyright.PENANAgzW0cX8hlc
813Please respect copyright.PENANARmd25Kwv8D
813Please respect copyright.PENANAQ75Mj2kmvQ
813Please respect copyright.PENANA20WnGLMzKw
"You may pass."813Please respect copyright.PENANARlxtuLB1Gy
813Please respect copyright.PENANAlENCWD2n0Y
813Please respect copyright.PENANAuB0wivbuqS
813Please respect copyright.PENANAEqmSN8jWx9
Serene813Please respect copyright.PENANAtcUElrutOG
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but813Please respect copyright.PENANA0gqs4tV45S
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big813Please respect copyright.PENANAghqjMgUC0u
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 813Please respect copyright.PENANAFKPVhA8H7P
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or813Please respect copyright.PENANAijesDiMYCn
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.813Please respect copyright.PENANAwsWc1qHXID
813Please respect copyright.PENANAx342EdrJu5
But the813Please respect copyright.PENANA1hvqzmSFnP
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way813Please respect copyright.PENANAI13gjjz05n
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but813Please respect copyright.PENANAU7u7vS4fFT
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any813Please respect copyright.PENANAh0T7X9dMuF
longer. He had to keep going.813Please respect copyright.PENANA0exlxsDSRv
813Please respect copyright.PENANAVVVJ0eHVOa
First813Please respect copyright.PENANAyw2huRWLJu
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.813Please respect copyright.PENANAAwRIIetF2d
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main813Please respect copyright.PENANAFFduRnimgt
temple with their grand doors open.813Please respect copyright.PENANAB4TeGMX0T0
813Please respect copyright.PENANAhdxKh3XScM
The first813Please respect copyright.PENANAKbRURiQaDg
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he813Please respect copyright.PENANAL2B6LaP0M3
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of813Please respect copyright.PENANAaje3yGO5aK
light leading further in. 813Please respect copyright.PENANASjpTh52ZeG
813Please respect copyright.PENANApK9VtGF7O9
813Please respect copyright.PENANAUTS1z85RfL
813Please respect copyright.PENANAtvxqiLOTh2
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the813Please respect copyright.PENANAj2wNA5uZBy
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if813Please respect copyright.PENANAZpubh5g47o
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever813Please respect copyright.PENANAHbJWmk2GIc
trapped.813Please respect copyright.PENANALylvgk00Kb
813Please respect copyright.PENANARwYjewIbfT
813Please respect copyright.PENANAsyTfz6YkeB
813Please respect copyright.PENANAfrTY977iHW
"Calm813Please respect copyright.PENANAMz4nYIgLCA
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept813Please respect copyright.PENANAsiGDaQjzQK
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.813Please respect copyright.PENANAafTCtLhkFi
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the813Please respect copyright.PENANA5Lua0t6SUt
words under his breath he followed the path of light.813Please respect copyright.PENANAHmvjBMzhBN
813Please respect copyright.PENANACRkJK6y8Vt
He walked813Please respect copyright.PENANAM5crzvq46a
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."813Please respect copyright.PENANAOpBDkpQxkf
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of813Please respect copyright.PENANAhUBbwBi7rB
light, dwindling it down. 813Please respect copyright.PENANAAPfrVSrlcA
813Please respect copyright.PENANAkPuu1DkNhA
"Enough."813Please respect copyright.PENANAQiz1ld6Jcj
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path813Please respect copyright.PENANAiBNVCnbKJq
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook813Please respect copyright.PENANAV2fdwBhKgw
the darkness and there was only light.813Please respect copyright.PENANAKKCn4HSwO8
813Please respect copyright.PENANAxIbvhAvOp1
"You813Please respect copyright.PENANAPydwLQwtVK
have come far, Bongzhon."813Please respect copyright.PENANArhRf7MLATM
813Please respect copyright.PENANAGG3dHrDNxy
Serene813Please respect copyright.PENANANoaAic6oz6
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.813Please respect copyright.PENANAdxFJY7DgXe
813Please respect copyright.PENANA79kMsxKRhx
"Come,813Please respect copyright.PENANAs3RCtYb862
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked813Please respect copyright.PENANAHuCwo6GpAx
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,813Please respect copyright.PENANAvAdBRa9mvz
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.813Please respect copyright.PENANAntntzDL8y6
813Please respect copyright.PENANAX0rfmL9Pdg
"You,813Please respect copyright.PENANAjfXJ7HPHFw
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my813Please respect copyright.PENANA9LCZbEYomz
judgement, whatever it may be"813Please respect copyright.PENANAS9dxNmMZSY
813Please respect copyright.PENANANjMAKIQRUd
"I813Please respect copyright.PENANAw8DXe0vIiA
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his813Please respect copyright.PENANAyQVWUz5jui
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.813Please respect copyright.PENANA0cAqWSqQcf
813Please respect copyright.PENANAQqLsT3fD5w
"Very,813Please respect copyright.PENANAgA1nD4zpN6
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,813Please respect copyright.PENANApVb36ZCPJA
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating813Please respect copyright.PENANAfeIRJqcdWK
and a small boy appeared out of the light.813Please respect copyright.PENANAJujZVNnlE4
813Please respect copyright.PENANAbpWtwY7ObJ
"This813Please respect copyright.PENANACT2YZGV2Qy
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide813Please respect copyright.PENANA3rtIwLZBVh
to join your order at such a young age?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAGGZMtDdZNg
813Please respect copyright.PENANAiHNFpqaskY
Serene813Please respect copyright.PENANA1sBhVvTCFk
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more813Please respect copyright.PENANAnMSJ9n9KcD
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to813Please respect copyright.PENANA1H1zoGPQME
provide for me and my siblings..."813Please respect copyright.PENANAu0TMLhwjL8
813Please respect copyright.PENANAkGb0wly82O
"Is813Please respect copyright.PENANA4X5zuurE1w
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through813Please respect copyright.PENANAlGuIWLtKzM
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have813Please respect copyright.PENANAUP8nbn3XKU
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?813Please respect copyright.PENANAidwMkwFpLj
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,813Please respect copyright.PENANA6o7QGFipFj
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."813Please respect copyright.PENANAzDxjqUSzSw
813Please respect copyright.PENANAylNUrmOfgv
Serene813Please respect copyright.PENANAnmZw7NGnbJ
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago813Please respect copyright.PENANA4biYGnPDip
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of813Please respect copyright.PENANAsttcvoVJho
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.813Please respect copyright.PENANAG9MX1ihzY8
813Please respect copyright.PENANA4CFjo2zGrh
"Do813Please respect copyright.PENANAbtfqur6hrc
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family813Please respect copyright.PENANA6aTS2ngwaY
leading them to ruin?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAjy3ZGfTn3u
813Please respect copyright.PENANAVztH2fKpjV
"Yes."813Please respect copyright.PENANAlzosBOkyXg
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether813Please respect copyright.PENANArBBclRShYu
he would've stayed or not.813Please respect copyright.PENANAbEw095Uggo
813Please respect copyright.PENANA2iVs0o0xa5
"Very813Please respect copyright.PENANA9wSng94oSw
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well813Please respect copyright.PENANAmSPAJLxuRk
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the813Please respect copyright.PENANAX4k2yC0OT4
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAVqptjFVlyl
813Please respect copyright.PENANAYGmFFPFP2I
"I813Please respect copyright.PENANAvYHAMUA5IW
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by813Please respect copyright.PENANAgAO5KopBzL
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With813Please respect copyright.PENANAVgA9OWgbDr
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the813Please respect copyright.PENANAqfsfVLGdfD
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.813Please respect copyright.PENANAj2Ur7mHQrr
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"And813Please respect copyright.PENANAFEiHHGJIs9
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were813Please respect copyright.PENANAII9jNb1Ff2
perfect in your role?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAUSg0fRAjlZ
813Please respect copyright.PENANAnc30cdLXbE
"I813Please respect copyright.PENANArB8AZZzBPo
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I813Please respect copyright.PENANAJnQkslG5ey
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his813Please respect copyright.PENANAYzvHqB0UPv
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would813Please respect copyright.PENANASlbs4LTioS
stand by them.813Please respect copyright.PENANAdLH4JKzxqj
813Please respect copyright.PENANAzSGbjLHZ3e
"Good."813Please respect copyright.PENANAVgeE4YIgUn
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent813Please respect copyright.PENANAorsHNXKPdu
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both813Please respect copyright.PENANA32YL6CFwkw
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.813Please respect copyright.PENANAj7SnTEA4v0
813Please respect copyright.PENANAxTBbnYOQr9
"This813Please respect copyright.PENANAXSa5xOVGzK
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,813Please respect copyright.PENANAfng1Mo6TIf
why did you decide to rest now?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAI2R9QU67mA
813Please respect copyright.PENANAr5Mp5UOOmc
"Because813Please respect copyright.PENANABzm4rbnPXA
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a813Please respect copyright.PENANAavfu9ZhZJi
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition813Please respect copyright.PENANAe4Ma6jYK0c
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.813Please respect copyright.PENANAc242ReobIi
813Please respect copyright.PENANAGAjGlcQclv
"Any813Please respect copyright.PENANAU1fEcLbt7h
last words before I begin my judgement?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAGnLuFzHXcS
813Please respect copyright.PENANAjQRtYxglvN
"No."813Please respect copyright.PENANAZvB2mn5onJ
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 813Please respect copyright.PENANA03uLW5eD64
813Please respect copyright.PENANAYvuHQCviZ2
"Bongzhon,813Please respect copyright.PENANAsbmdj9Xugj
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your813Please respect copyright.PENANAuLUFKn0d5A
rest."813Please respect copyright.PENANAbt0YQoAD0S
813Please respect copyright.PENANAyIohLLwEpp
The light813Please respect copyright.PENANAECpMHn4ewT
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt813Please respect copyright.PENANARRcOS0hUwz
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first813Please respect copyright.PENANAljNsh5sD2F
time in decades, happy and in peace.813Please respect copyright.PENANAKOWEj8vYiT
813Please respect copyright.PENANAaslmd4p3tR
813Please respect copyright.PENANAI1NkSgVKBm
813Please respect copyright.PENANAE2cyLVwMAj
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813Please respect copyright.PENANAu8hC2vITRA
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813Please respect copyright.PENANAGiQxGK5IMv