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So this916Please respect copyright.PENANA6H2WMAUtZG
is finally it.916Please respect copyright.PENANAcutaxG8inO
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A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and916Please respect copyright.PENANA3gFAak6gwp
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to916Please respect copyright.PENANAbVMznlH1xP
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.916Please respect copyright.PENANAMxeDmWnege
916Please respect copyright.PENANALwnBiArAW0
916Please respect copyright.PENANA5cTXmiyYN4
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Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to916Please respect copyright.PENANAru3To1StAG
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.916Please respect copyright.PENANAHrb30oJ8rq
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,916Please respect copyright.PENANAfJvrWV7Db8
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...916Please respect copyright.PENANApcp8iTjDmc
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"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last916Please respect copyright.PENANAEXQJ0bP0rL
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for916Please respect copyright.PENANAE7vLTtNAgj
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate916Please respect copyright.PENANAQM8KkJodMa
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.916Please respect copyright.PENANAD9upcYxtEv
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"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.916Please respect copyright.PENANA4Ypsg0ykGa
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"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before916Please respect copyright.PENANA4QdNLS9xCM
him."916Please respect copyright.PENANAAbazM4cGpb
916Please respect copyright.PENANAwi5fxIltza
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"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.916Please respect copyright.PENANAAC65IMRgEy
916Please respect copyright.PENANA8vB7uOrZCm
916Please respect copyright.PENANA0wkXRFDbNg
916Please respect copyright.PENANAcPgGPbP4mu
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."916Please respect copyright.PENANA19yJTJzAI1
916Please respect copyright.PENANAJR6n7FGhZc
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"You may pass."916Please respect copyright.PENANAHnPTU68pIm
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Serene916Please respect copyright.PENANA6X8hRQcp2N
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but916Please respect copyright.PENANAu9SUZNNTXr
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big916Please respect copyright.PENANAMiozk7Rwbm
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 916Please respect copyright.PENANAa8vmP0BhJ7
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or916Please respect copyright.PENANAZGBdpjiMhc
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.916Please respect copyright.PENANAQHPqcVwnCs
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But the916Please respect copyright.PENANARBN1CitNM7
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way916Please respect copyright.PENANAryys6mw1AT
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but916Please respect copyright.PENANAed5PRl6ndZ
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any916Please respect copyright.PENANAlguNGoZcwS
longer. He had to keep going.916Please respect copyright.PENANA2TwsJtvTjt
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First916Please respect copyright.PENANAtPio6SfjAB
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.916Please respect copyright.PENANA42OCNXS1s1
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main916Please respect copyright.PENANA5u56sGx5sx
temple with their grand doors open.916Please respect copyright.PENANAvLYPDH5IBf
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The first916Please respect copyright.PENANAX3jl9KuKHt
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he916Please respect copyright.PENANARGAOrDPEPi
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of916Please respect copyright.PENANAPuYUVPYNMZ
light leading further in. 916Please respect copyright.PENANAvOblOcqFA9
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Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the916Please respect copyright.PENANA52keWI7JVa
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if916Please respect copyright.PENANAKechU7Uukd
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever916Please respect copyright.PENANADVco15Keby
trapped.916Please respect copyright.PENANASve7VBIIn2
916Please respect copyright.PENANAFZ5BSGIQw2
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"Calm916Please respect copyright.PENANAe2Zfh4fJkE
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept916Please respect copyright.PENANAVsYj6eROSp
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.916Please respect copyright.PENANAOQ2YYrWvE6
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the916Please respect copyright.PENANAObexsAoDAo
words under his breath he followed the path of light.916Please respect copyright.PENANAsvI0gZoMMy
916Please respect copyright.PENANAjDOxQvwnJe
He walked916Please respect copyright.PENANApmjKRmyrGD
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."916Please respect copyright.PENANAw0Ei72lSok
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of916Please respect copyright.PENANAss0ryQqiAf
light, dwindling it down. 916Please respect copyright.PENANAAbvzY3t56R
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"Enough."916Please respect copyright.PENANAOAkUUlJKIz
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path916Please respect copyright.PENANAcwdubYvkr7
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook916Please respect copyright.PENANAQHQuWmPsXN
the darkness and there was only light.916Please respect copyright.PENANAm529w1jAhn
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"You916Please respect copyright.PENANA2eOwvJbbpr
have come far, Bongzhon."916Please respect copyright.PENANALcZmN6q72W
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Serene916Please respect copyright.PENANAq58MhAV3pi
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.916Please respect copyright.PENANAcyzHWKchvI
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"Come,916Please respect copyright.PENANAclcKDA9AWh
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked916Please respect copyright.PENANAlfSpRftZee
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,916Please respect copyright.PENANAWJNrIPBZ4j
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.916Please respect copyright.PENANAY22456qEur
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"You,916Please respect copyright.PENANABw4Lsjnvm3
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my916Please respect copyright.PENANABujtiOSZSs
judgement, whatever it may be"916Please respect copyright.PENANAwaOjbCUgyH
916Please respect copyright.PENANA9dMBSGllOV
"I916Please respect copyright.PENANAW3r2gSgFXF
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his916Please respect copyright.PENANAPYxx1isVrQ
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.916Please respect copyright.PENANAtfjd0ypxMS
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"Very,916Please respect copyright.PENANAaBd1wDipD0
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,916Please respect copyright.PENANAaROKknC7df
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating916Please respect copyright.PENANAbY8bIKx0fv
and a small boy appeared out of the light.916Please respect copyright.PENANAvegC9CET2R
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"This916Please respect copyright.PENANAryrEru4qVv
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide916Please respect copyright.PENANAqYhlngahhi
to join your order at such a young age?"916Please respect copyright.PENANASGkULhZzAg
916Please respect copyright.PENANALMPjJVhSnf
Serene916Please respect copyright.PENANAkERSGnjvtW
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more916Please respect copyright.PENANAEBXZM9vq5P
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to916Please respect copyright.PENANA2Jr0k19XOs
provide for me and my siblings..."916Please respect copyright.PENANA19h3C0Xh3g
916Please respect copyright.PENANAKRzRRO4qa2
"Is916Please respect copyright.PENANA8m2EOIe60Q
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through916Please respect copyright.PENANA5xuMVOmlnD
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have916Please respect copyright.PENANA8pZevp1Q3X
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?916Please respect copyright.PENANAbJSxGDCFyz
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,916Please respect copyright.PENANAeC9tX2oAiu
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."916Please respect copyright.PENANAq8GbbMxjWL
916Please respect copyright.PENANAB3GYrXfFrr
Serene916Please respect copyright.PENANAnGQfVO9dbv
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago916Please respect copyright.PENANA15nVZAtw3v
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of916Please respect copyright.PENANAEfodXJJWX0
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.916Please respect copyright.PENANAA7reOw6riN
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"Do916Please respect copyright.PENANAqMwEnUZKMx
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family916Please respect copyright.PENANAqpsFtzSG9M
leading them to ruin?"916Please respect copyright.PENANAls7jKxRp04
916Please respect copyright.PENANAogLWsHSpJT
"Yes."916Please respect copyright.PENANA9UXI2zmLNB
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether916Please respect copyright.PENANA9hB5x7DvI3
he would've stayed or not.916Please respect copyright.PENANAiJAgcmnqyi
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"Very916Please respect copyright.PENANAoaZnI9iWo0
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well916Please respect copyright.PENANAVKrwUswVHp
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the916Please respect copyright.PENANAs4obfAiTpC
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"916Please respect copyright.PENANAfNpMNNsakT
916Please respect copyright.PENANArOSKN7AZNO
"I916Please respect copyright.PENANA01DJZOF5DC
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by916Please respect copyright.PENANAiwALP1sTtf
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With916Please respect copyright.PENANAdLoR7PduG2
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the916Please respect copyright.PENANAeLVG1lmXbr
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.916Please respect copyright.PENANAz2MP6cR06Z
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"And916Please respect copyright.PENANAIvJZ1yFY7L
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were916Please respect copyright.PENANAXheyFr7TQu
perfect in your role?"916Please respect copyright.PENANAlI7Pw9E2gl
916Please respect copyright.PENANAzLmlxfiObs
"I916Please respect copyright.PENANAvsExdaThHp
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I916Please respect copyright.PENANAGo0bHCiOFh
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his916Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7rOyjA7eV
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would916Please respect copyright.PENANAD7PjZH0ty7
stand by them.916Please respect copyright.PENANAKEcU5yuyHv
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"Good."916Please respect copyright.PENANAdFThtp83dO
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent916Please respect copyright.PENANAEXUlYGhzGF
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both916Please respect copyright.PENANAgRrcWBwSDN
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.916Please respect copyright.PENANAyc8DG1gNvE
916Please respect copyright.PENANA9i6U8wI4SB
"This916Please respect copyright.PENANAovk5kluJ4C
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,916Please respect copyright.PENANAwMNotc9oZq
why did you decide to rest now?"916Please respect copyright.PENANA7eMo2csvqp
916Please respect copyright.PENANAzNGNTSAOmE
"Because916Please respect copyright.PENANAPLO0cJzimd
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a916Please respect copyright.PENANAnLMV4XHECc
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition916Please respect copyright.PENANA2iubBAPOsY
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.916Please respect copyright.PENANAjImaJaCFJu
916Please respect copyright.PENANAci6zWxSsdN
"Any916Please respect copyright.PENANAyV0u938ZHE
last words before I begin my judgement?"916Please respect copyright.PENANAV2MvfZGfWX
916Please respect copyright.PENANAN5v3upTC0M
"No."916Please respect copyright.PENANAuNtFAtT7kU
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 916Please respect copyright.PENANAtLajXx7k7K
916Please respect copyright.PENANAKutCxYpgaE
"Bongzhon,916Please respect copyright.PENANALGeXXsN353
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your916Please respect copyright.PENANA6xXbQF3cO8
rest."916Please respect copyright.PENANArlP6gsuMqV
916Please respect copyright.PENANA3fqDfDun2p
The light916Please respect copyright.PENANAgdl3OTvk8P
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt916Please respect copyright.PENANAQblG940u5P
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first916Please respect copyright.PENANAvQkjqAQS8s
time in decades, happy and in peace.916Please respect copyright.PENANAxdCVrIzG8r
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