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The Books of Oyja I: The Tenju
Chapter 4 Rules

The amazing city struck me at once. The sky was not just sky but the combining matter of time and space. The buildings, I swear, were living beings like Herm Tenju. There were humans and many other creatures on the streets; some appeared to be Slaves, like me. A creature, similar to the one that had given me my name, walked up to me. “Are you Slave Oyja?” It asked.

I grimaced. “That is my name! But I am no Slave!” I shouted. This made the creature laugh.

“Oyja, I command you to call me master.” It said. I shivered but I said it. Even though I fought it, I had fallen. “As you can see, Slave Oyja, names are powerful things. I am your new master. My name is Padawan Kino. I am a Falleen female.”

I followed it, though I wished not to. “There are three major classes in Tenju Hell.” I held back a snicker. “Slaves, which are the lowest class, have no freedom and must obey any Tenju or Padawan.”

“But aren’t you all Tenju?” I asked. This brought to mind Herm saying that I could become a Tenju. Weird.

“No! Tenju is a ranking. No person that is the rank of Padawan or Slave can call himself or herself a Tenju. The crime for doing so is very high. One Slave that called himself a Tenju was killed by being fed to a rancor.” Kino said. “Padawan is the next highest ranking. A Padawan means you are taking training under a Tenju. Most Padawans are fighters.”

“What are the others?” I asked. We passed by some shops that were selling the oddest items. A metal thing with a round end and the other end was straight but had points sticking out.

“The others deal with communications. Communications are often difficult to maintain since we are in no exact when or where. You could even say we don’t live in any when or where.”

“But, where are we then?” I asked. A Twi’lek passed by carrying a bag. I didn’t want to imagine what was in it.

“We are in Master Tenju’s mind. If he is destroyed, a new Master Tenju will take its place. But that is very rare. Only once before it has happened and that time is long ago, to my clock.” Kino answered. “Tenju is the highest ranking possible. All Slaves and Padawans reach for this position. But your time of becoming one is far in the future.”

We went into a little shop that had the atmosphere of a dung heap. I tried to hold my breath, but it didn’t help. The walls were brown and moldy; the floor covered with a carpet that had dragons all over it, and objects that chilled me to my soul. I shivered. A creature all covered with brown fur and not looking very friendly appeared behind the counter. It growled something at Kino.

“We need this Slave’s crystal removed.” It growled some more. “Yes, Tenju, I know it doesn’t seem like it needs removal, but Kuhn Tenju wants to flaunt his power and that means the crystal has got to go.” It growled some more and touched the crystal. “Okay, I’ll pay you extra.”

I was directed to sit in a chair. The chair was made of metal and felt very warm. The creature took out a gray thin piece of rock along with a sharp knife. It muttered some words and tapped the rock three times on the crystal. The knife was then used to get the crystal out of my head.

Blood poured all over. Every crevice in the floor was getting watered. A water plant would’ve drowned. How could I have this much blood? The creature growled at Kino. Suddenly, all the blood went into my body and I was pushed harshly back into the chair. A piece of green cloth was put on the hole. The cloth grew warm and I felt it become skin. Kino paid the Tenju and we walked out.

We finally reached what looked like a palace. There were some bushes that were fiery red and gold. Wind rustled the leaves. The building seemed to be made of volcanic rock; lava seemed to still flow through it. Kuhn Tenju walked to greet us.

“Padawan Kino, thank you. I assume this is your Slave?” Kuhn said as though disappointed. He looked at me and I stared harshly at him. I hated him so much!

“This is Slave Oyja, Tenju.” Kino said and bowed.

“Ddddd…” Kuhn started and then straightened out. “Delighted to see you.”

“Traitor!” I yelled. Hate poured through me and I wish I could lash out. I wanted to see him dead. Kuhn showed no more of his emotions and Kino directed me into a small room. The bed was horribly kept, the walls were peeling, and the window looked unto a perverted chapel.

The chapel was a dark black and had a gray roof. The doors seemed to be made of skin and the doorknobs of bone. Bushes of bright green and grass of gold seemed in sharp contrast to the chapel. “Slaves never go in that chapel, Oyja, unless directed to do so.” Kino said. I wondered who would want to go in there anyway. I would never go in there.

Kino then handed me a piece of paper that said:

Vermin all around
Their blood is spilt easily

Running from all harm

“This is what a Slave is. Remember your place.” Kino said and then left me.

Author’s Note: This chapter started out more pleasant because I picked up from where the last chapter ended. I think Tenju Hell is a bad place but that doesn’t diminish its beauty. I used some foreshadowing in this chapter, although what it foreshadows is a long ways away. The haiku at the end I made up especially for this series. You’ll see more haiku later on!

Description
The Books of Oyja I: The Tenju
Chapter 4 Rules

The amazing city struck me at once. The sky was not just sky but the combining matter of time and space. The buildings, I swear, were living beings like Herm Tenju. There were humans and many other creatures on the streets; some appeared to be Slaves, like me. A creature, similar to the one that had given me my name, walked up to me. “Are you Slave Oyja?” It asked.

I grimaced. “That is my name! But I am no Slave!” I shouted. This made the creature laugh.

“Oyja, I command you to call me master.” It said. I shivered but I said it. Even though I fought it, I had fallen. “As you can see, Slave Oyja, names are powerful things. I am your new master. My name is Padawan Kino. I am a Falleen female.”

I followed it, though I wished not to. “There are three major classes in Tenju Hell.” I held back a snicker. “Slaves, which are the lowest class, have no freedom and must obey any Tenju or Padawan.”

“But aren’t you all Tenju?” I asked. This brought to mind Herm saying that I could become a Tenju. Weird.

“No! Tenju is a ranking. No person that is the rank of Padawan or Slave can call himself or herself a Tenju. The crime for doing so is very high. One Slave that called himself a Tenju was killed by being fed to a rancor.” Kino said. “Padawan is the next highest ranking. A Padawan means you are taking training under a Tenju. Most Padawans are fighters.”

“What are the others?” I asked. We passed by some shops that were selling the oddest items. A metal thing with a round end and the other end was straight but had points sticking out.

“The others deal with communications. Communications are often difficult to maintain since we are in no exact when or where. You could even say we don’t live in any when or where.”

“But, where are we then?” I asked. A Twi’lek passed by carrying a bag. I didn’t want to imagine what was in it.

“We are in Master Tenju’s mind. If he is destroyed, a new Master Tenju will take its place. But that is very rare. Only once before it has happened and that time is long ago, to my clock.” Kino answered. “Tenju is the highest ranking possible. All Slaves and Padawans reach for this position. But your time of becoming one is far in the future.”

We went into a little shop that had the atmosphere of a dung heap. I tried to hold my breath, but it didn’t help. The walls were brown and moldy; the floor covered with a carpet that had dragons all over it, and objects that chilled me to my soul. I shivered. A creature all covered with brown fur and not looking very friendly appeared behind the counter. It growled something at Kino.

“We need this Slave’s crystal removed.” It growled some more. “Yes, Tenju, I know it doesn’t seem like it needs removal, but Kuhn Tenju wants to flaunt his power and that means the crystal has got to go.” It growled some more and touched the crystal. “Okay, I’ll pay you extra.”

I was directed to sit in a chair. The chair was made of metal and felt very warm. The creature took out a gray thin piece of rock along with a sharp knife. It muttered some words and tapped the rock three times on the crystal. The knife was then used to get the crystal out of my head.

Blood poured all over. Every crevice in the floor was getting watered. A water plant would’ve drowned. How could I have this much blood? The creature growled at Kino. Suddenly, all the blood went into my body and I was pushed harshly back into the chair. A piece of green cloth was put on the hole. The cloth grew warm and I felt it become skin. Kino paid the Tenju and we walked out.

We finally reached what looked like a palace. There were some bushes that were fiery red and gold. Wind rustled the leaves. The building seemed to be made of volcanic rock; lava seemed to still flow through it. Kuhn Tenju walked to greet us.

“Padawan Kino, thank you. I assume this is your Slave?” Kuhn said as though disappointed. He looked at me and I stared harshly at him. I hated him so much!

“This is Slave Oyja, Tenju.” Kino said and bowed.

“Ddddd…” Kuhn started and then straightened out. “Delighted to see you.”

“Traitor!” I yelled. Hate poured through me and I wish I could lash out. I wanted to see him dead. Kuhn showed no more of his emotions and Kino directed me into a small room. The bed was horribly kept, the walls were peeling, and the window looked unto a perverted chapel.

The chapel was a dark black and had a gray roof. The doors seemed to be made of skin and the doorknobs of bone. Bushes of bright green and grass of gold seemed in sharp contrast to the chapel. “Slaves never go in that chapel, Oyja, unless directed to do so.” Kino said. I wondered who would want to go in there anyway. I would never go in there.

Kino then handed me a piece of paper that said:

Vermin all around
Their blood is spilt easily

Running from all harm

“This is what a Slave is. Remember your place.” Kino said and then left me.

Author’s Note: This chapter started out more pleasant because I picked up from where the last chapter ended. I think Tenju Hell is a bad place but that doesn’t diminish its beauty. I used some foreshadowing in this chapter, although what it foreshadows is a long ways away. The haiku at the end I made up especially for this series. You’ll see more haiku later on!