Tommy sharpened the twig, eyeing the bunch of thumblings nearby, happily chattering away. He scoffed, hanging his head low so they couldn't see his look.

  "Everyone come together! The next trial is about to begin. Remember, put on a show! Impress your future leaders!"

  He grounged himself up and gathered at the edge of the crowd. The thumbling prattled on and on about some rules. He scoffed again. As if the real world had rules. They should have left him to die when he was abandoned out here.

  The crowd buzzed with excitement as he followed them to the arena. They climbed an intricate stretch of ladders till they reached a broad tree with a colosseum carved in its very center. The roars of spectators traveled to his ear.

  They entered the deafening colosseum, gathering in batches according to the thumbling guide’s preference.

  "Hey you, who'd you want to be chosen by? There's this one called Trian. I heard he has some real skills." Some happy-go-lucky guy approached him.

  Tommy lifted his head and eyed him behind his long bangs. The guy's sunny smile faded and he backed off, returning to his circle of of friends. His friends too, paused when he made eye contact.

  He hung his head low again, playing with the sharpened stick.

  For hours, he witnessed clowns who called themselves warriors make a fool of themselves on the combat platform until it was his turn. The crowd roared and cheered like mindless—he’ll just ignore them.

  "Tommy Thumb versus Trick Thumb!"

  He stepped to the platform with nothing but his sharpened stick. He didn't need his dagger to kill guys like this. He staggered forward, slow and sloppy, then indicated he was ready.

  On the elevated platform, he could finally see the visage of those oh-so-holy ones who he had to parade around like a monkey for. In an exclusive area of the arena stood about twelve of them, all of them looking charismatic and likeable.

  "Fight!"

  This Trick guy comes yelling towards him with no footwork and a weak attack angle. He just sidestepped him. This is torture.

  "I surrender." Tommy raised his hand in the air and stepped down.

  "The winner! Trick Thumb!"

  …

  Tai opened Tommy's file.

  Name: Tommy Thumb

  Alias: Tommy

  Place of Birth: Gutters, Index District

  Overview: An unfriendly individual with no social skills. Does not participate in any skill-building activity and does not speak. He reviles authority and social groups.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Final rating: 2/5

  Special notes: Two stars were given only on the basis he might have some special skills hiding.

  "This Tommy guy, he's definitely...different." Thumbling commented.

  "Yeah, look at his file," another remarked while reading the catalogue.

  "Does anyone find him useful?" He looked around to everyone, finally locking eyes with Tai.

  He gave Tai a quizzical look, and Tai shook his head. "I can't be sure about him, but..."

  "But what?" The thumbling asked. Everyone looked at him.

  "...nevermind." Tai frowned and studied the file. Tommy Thumb is a wild card indeed. He could recruit him, and it works out, or he could be a liability to his team, even endangering them all.

  ...

  Tommy left the colosseum that echoed with boos and found a quiet spot outside the arena. He sharpened his stick some more.

  "It's quite boring in there, huh?"

  He looked up, eyeing this green-haired guy. His stance was closed. His gait was firm. He was looking at him with these gentle eyes-what's with those eyes?

  "Why did you leave?" The green-haired thumbling took a seat beside him unanounced.

  Does he expect him to watch those pathetic thumblings? He scoffed. They were obnoxious of their skill too. He can't stand it. But this guy, he was a bit different. He studied those emerald eyes.

  He looks naiive. He shaved a flake off his stick, "Leave me alone."

  "But I want you to join my team."

  What? He lifted his head, eyeing this guy. The guy smiled at him. He looked so hopeful about this sickening world. "What you want me for? To be the darkness for your sunshine?" He scoffed as he gave him a ridiculing look.

  "Yes!" The guy grinned at him. He really wanted to scoff at the guy again, but he looked serious about pestering him. The jovial guy pointed at himself, "I'm Tai."

  "I'm Tommy."

  "Tommy...huh. So how did reach this place?"

  He shaved off a few more flakes for a more pointy stick. "My old man sold me out for a couple of bucks. You don't need to tell me why you're here though." He looked at that sprite green hair and snickered.

  Tai smiled wryly. "Well, uh, I can't promise you much, but you won't be bored with me."

  Tommy smirked, "And why's that?"

  "Because this place is obviously not for you. You belong in the streets of the kingdom, and that's where I'm going.

  Tommy laughed. This guys is funny. "I belong in the streets?"

  "Yes." Tai looked serious about that insult. Seeing this guy's face, he probably didn't even see it as one.

  Tommy pinched his brow, "Is someone like you actually fit to be some king?"

  Tai widened his eyes at him.

  What? Nobody ever asked him that before?

  "I want to be king."

  That much was obvious. "Why?"

  "I want to change everything. And make people happy."

  "Oh," Tommy snickered, "You mean happpy like yourself? Not everyone is cut out to be like you."

  "I'm not happy." This guy's eyes that were always so sparkly dimmed. It actually dimmed for a second. Did the trees just droop for a bit? Interesting. "But...I have hope, and that keeps me going."

  His eyes brightened again. There it was too—the trees looked strong again.

  Tommy straightened his back for a second and brushed his bangs away to get a good look at this guy. The guy looked straight back at him with eyes looking so sure he was going to be the next king.

  Tommy tsked and brushed back his bangs. All this throne takeover talk was too much for a small guy like him. But, he could help this guy, Tai, since he wanted his help. He wasn't a fast learner, or some super skilled guy like that Trian guy. But...he can do a thing or two.

  Tai gave him a look that seemed so sure that he was his best bet. Alright. He'll agree. He doesn't fit in this forest mess anyways.

  "Okay, I'll be your sidekick."

  Tai laughed, "You're not my sidekick, you're my partner. And we'll be together for a very, very long time."

  Smile crept up his lips as he looked at Tai who was literally glowing beneath the sunlight. He sighed inwardly. Some people were just born different.

  "Alright I'm on your side now. You can go on and look for others to join our crew."

  Tai sighed and shook his head. "No one else stood out to me. I didn't know the fighters here were so...uh, how should I say it...inexperienced."

  Tommy threw his head back and laughed. He threw the stick aside, "I can think of a few guys. I don't know what exactly their skills are like, but they definitely have something special."

  Tai perked up, "Where are they? How come I can't find them?"

  "They're not here. I don't even why I came. There's a tree village nearby."

  Tai raised his brow. "Aren't competitors supposed to be in the arena?"

  "Yeah. Those troublemakers snuck away.”