821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3DStUjuni
So this821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tUoaSwfsG
is finally it.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN28chcaFI
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkjYeXmA7o
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gr5XjEBOb
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo70zAoFMCT
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeN5ptl8c63
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEiB20XVNj
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWrjMLspYN
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqF5ky7EN1
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUGXAeYZfZ
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzrXhVsLVM
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3lvsB0jsv
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87aqii4ZHG
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQHUfgSXXu
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8uXK44Xma
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd6bQQLfhm
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdxJYdXzOP
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbS4wEdepN
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciioQQrgFW
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC2StWx1iY
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStZwuF91t0
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWwP07M5GH
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStVmptchyP
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC990RqDKo
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzAZE1JzlO
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRdD578jhA
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0KAsyzubm
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCR8gIIZfb
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9vk9LdTrO
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8m0SdnmE6
him."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWbcCnfhd2
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQOYKahRYC
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxTUl7lRq2
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2k9P3M9Byt
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZU9cWhGyzy
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppA5tByyAZ
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0rTsRM4tJ
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNpNk1OfMo
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2bEzyMTbw
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZTUt1ntn7
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQzwkej5PZ
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl5XlGo5dE
"You may pass."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzisQSpDP3
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwaUK4xFHZ
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgvAilptOZ
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPxAeSdVvB
Serene821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILsT1qTtxC
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU53rBDEMC
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5txl0f41Eg
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhc4OhZqK79
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK4BOOWldl
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GYiZW7rkQ
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg71tRSdSW7
But the821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YoRANO2HC
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3jWGGhZAg
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhu9BgMvzWd
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzp2bm5ev8
longer. He had to keep going.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRF2vWvT5E
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pJuY5VhMO
First821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcFAlaiATJ
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRaBHX1M75
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpaMm2vp6T
temple with their grand doors open.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTkCVhMICa
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsDtH0IrTC
The first821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3xp2vwcY8
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeWjjIopx3
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKUqZAJyMB
light leading further in. 821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEXlrEUTLi
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHmgzrEuMh
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3z5m77dMKt
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAwQwfHqWn
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY5fQOY1PQ
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFeBVCWr5x
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRVQUvfphK
trapped.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarNAJwfucc
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyGp6VwmUf
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIwXnJXQFs
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BlVcJfgLh
"Calm821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMCnfz94gp
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewTCoreakn
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0vkYgTCNH
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdk8MxgXrb0
words under his breath he followed the path of light.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVufkmkLGN
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dSEYLKqWU
He walked821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebfU5F1E4W
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWGAbUUdvA
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqknylZMWLz
light, dwindling it down. 821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAohX8GuBUi
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSgSYpPqE6
"Enough."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yfy5Uvc5V
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSXp0nIQSo
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEdKwxMDoT
the darkness and there was only light.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50a61evxV3
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGcK88rl2n
"You821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFo2qGEPnV
have come far, Bongzhon."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ecqz35QE3
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRaxqG8O43
Serene821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmedahYXBL
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81Xk7TApOw
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92Ayy0BDly
"Come,821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOjoZkSzsy
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtsBkdVb9o
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqcRPLtYTW
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk1EpPtUpP
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FN3wQyRLl
"You,821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDLgoby6FJ
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3FklIdRkc
judgement, whatever it may be"821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50xLwS2CwL
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj5wW4Q17H
"I821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAA2ipOiRjB
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLb9xGzj9M
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfGq9FsZiI
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlL3aqdXnL
"Very,821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ULt9iTAed
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ2Z9ys4P8
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowaFkgEt01
and a small boy appeared out of the light.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxt9HqPv2g
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iaIKonL3f
"This821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflMrtiYIsJ
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwQjutNDJx
to join your order at such a young age?"821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLu3ejGBkL
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjOmUJkoC0
Serene821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLhQfVZrMx
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlASrydgx7
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1rIyup0G6
provide for me and my siblings..."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0xAdAmAQc
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPni0eNK22
"Is821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG85ICZk5nd
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURcluO1TJV
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSKOwohEFN
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTMZIJtBjT
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzNIM8ZdIn
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5txP6Y9C31
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6IhoSyVDF
Serene821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7E8QUUij3
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OemuM5CdV
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq6P5LVnRP
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxm8LXGHJl
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G9jXvxTFz
"Do821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk0yfoQi7r
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg99xUbaumw
leading them to ruin?"821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNNKgmAEo7
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoMdKHKYT8
"Yes."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mlej8oFGj
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ot8KeObIK
he would've stayed or not.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp21NEsCkQE
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEdv5Jgwph
"Very821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveO43Gn6U5
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMYyhyjAZ4
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHDmiEw2RB
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dIofIaWeK
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcichtqET4r
"I821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUdIXhUFxe
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT3cHItC6I
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RZb7RGcj0
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTYC3ZppgJ
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwq1lmzTeh
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJC71pL6Yt
"And821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeytxoVeefF
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H8sElvqWU
perfect in your role?"821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cL8KFvhUw
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZPyvY4OMI
"I821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bsoeJsiMG
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4DaH0hJdp
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7b6N4IssX
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaXxQlQ0IG
stand by them.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSngfgqKvs
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcnKBMtR3n
"Good."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJIs2u92jl
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeetgbtxTkY
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eIombSJfa
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCUCLOPRqi
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu54xVRiq4W
"This821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIOjGDW4pW
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMGAnSJd42
why did you decide to rest now?"821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOWnvlNsZO
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4tbeOPZdG
"Because821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZinmghSzt
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UxKUAnMA7
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1SdkJP8ma
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhZLmJu7FH
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdVU9MdgmD
"Any821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr35S81zGut
last words before I begin my judgement?"821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYxb2JC5F8
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTooGDwfiDw
"No."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pTxnMCLzM
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLktwcZ8Kv
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGQJf7Gc5D
"Bongzhon,821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1RYqamkwm
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrAn9zbRiH
rest."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbaZyQ55Ks
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡium0yKnT5s
The light821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIzs3NwgSB
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7BEQzhr3a
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNR8eE0wz3x
time in decades, happy and in peace.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae9o3kXOIp
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1fghJBnz1
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7RtzjwmGd
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfx7fN0PBZq
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe9fRdR4Aa
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m0bSpp630
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUgdbak05L
821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD30VwIEKO
