1 Chapter 1: Beginning of the Journey

I am Henry Wick, birthplace unknown, date of birth unknown, parents unknown, I am living in an Orphanage, I was here since I was a baby, left on the doorstep of the Orphanage, with no notes, no name, nothing... wasn't even covered in a blanket for warmth, but just left me there, naked, with no piece of Cloth. Dirty and Noisy, that was me at that time, The lady who decided to pick me up and adopt me as her own was Griselda Wick, and the Man who agreed, was Jonathan Wick, I live with 23 Siblings, boy or girl, older or young, got them all.

Spent most of my childhood here, studied from elementary school until high school, using scholarships, I would say I'm pretty talented, I wanted to apply to a University of Jraga, but unfortunately, No scholarships were available, I've got no choice but to enter the Military Academy and make my Mom and Dad proud even if I'm not their son, I will make them proud, the thing is... I have no Fighting experience, no Martial arts skills, nothing... I can't even aim using a bow, swing a sword, my arms are literally just sticks and my body is only tall but thin, very thin.

You would say i have a malnutrition problem, but it's just that I rarely eat anything given to me, I spent most of my time studying, how cultivate farmlands, cattles, and how to plow the lands, I dreamt of being an executive of the Empire that runs on cultivating the lands, but god says otherwise, I ain't got much choice to make, so I chose the Military, it's free and I thought it was doable, but I was wrong. it was full of nobles, trying to learn Military subjects, so they can earn Military prestige and make their family proud, all of them are sons or daughters of Earls, Dukes, Knights, Baron and even the Emperor, Meanwhile I am a son of god knows who, as far as i Know i'm the son of Jonathan Wick, a retired knight due to injury and can't swing a sword no more.

It was day 1 of my Military academy days, and it was dreadful for me.

"Henry!!!, get up now my boy, it's late, isn't today the Academy entrance ceremony?, you got to brush up and wear nice clothes, make sure the uniform is clean, I made your favourite food, Noodles with spicy chicken broth, come on before it's cold, but make sure that everything is ready" Griselda Wick, My mother, a warm person with a bright smile and caring personality, She cried after I said that I applied to the Military academy, she cried while hugging me so tight, this is probably because I'm the only person in the Orphanage that decided to continue to the academy or university, my older siblings became a merchant or a clerk, so Griselda is so proud beyond words.

"Yea, mom just a second, I'm just getting it done, packing all my belongings is so hard" the Military Academy is a boarding school, the students will stay in a dorm, each dorm contains a lot of rooms, with girls and boys have separate dorms, each room can only fit 1 person only, there are other Military Academy, but with Jraga on it's name, making it one of the best, the top 5 Military Academies are Jraga, Silver, Groden, Braggart, and JayCe. Jraga is formerly the strongest, with The 1,2,3,4 and 5 Army Legion General, hailed from this Academy, even the current Emperor is from this academy, but due to a war with Javanna Kingdom, many teachers died thus lowering the academy's rank, making it number 5, some even considered that this academy should be closed, due to the many problem it's students caused, some even went to prison, but the new Head Academy changed a few regulations and made Jraga Academy prosper in the 5th place.

then my older brother came checking on me, he's name is Mitchell Wick, a restaurant owner downtown, he served mainly steak and believe me, they're good, he is older than me by 3 years, we would play together as a child and taught me how to cook using cheap ingredients, can't believe I will miss this guy.

"Oi champ, ready for the academy?, no more Mr. Troublemaker anymore heh?, gonna miss you bro", he put out his fist for a fist bump, so put out mine and did a fist bump with him, he is taller than me, got more muscle than me, got a house, lovely wife and kids, his life is perfect,

"yep all set, gonna miss you to bro", I hugged him and I never knew that his hug is this warm, it's full of compassion for a brother, never felt it, he always pranks me and call me names, but we cool.

I went down the stairs of the Orphanage, many of my siblings said goodbye to me, especially Jessie, 2 years younger than me, but we did some fun stuffs together, with Brother Mitchell, made a neighbour mad though.

"So you're going to the Academy heh, don't forget to brush your teeth or wash your socks, they're always smelly, but never thought i'm going to miss that rotten smell", She said this to me but I can see that she is slowly tearing up to i said,

"gonna miss you too", she hugged me and because she is shorter than me I calmly and softly stroke her head while holding her head against my chest, then I came down to Mom and Dad, seen my breakfast still there and intact, usually dad would ate it every time i'm late to eat it, makes me hungry in some occasions, still wouldn't believe going to miss little thing like this, so I ate breakfast and said goodbye to mom, she kissed me on my cheeks then hold both of my cheeks and said

" You've grown so well, Little Henry, I'm so proud of you, times that I yelled at you for causing troubles on the neighbourhood, are precious memories to me, no matter what you do, I'm always proud of you and never crossed my mind that you would become a Knight one day, same as your father, it's going to be empty and quiet here without you", she let out tears, and it's happiness tears I want to tear up to but I'm trying my best to hold it in, so i said

"I'm going to miss your cooking, your punishments, even your yelling heheh" saying this aches my heart so much, I'm leaving such a wonderful and strong woman who raised me until who I am now, but I have to go.

"Don't cause any trouble when I'm not around, no matter what you become, you will always be my Little Henry", she ended with a kiss on the forehead, I held her wrinkled arms and kissed her arms softly, then Dad came.

"Boy, you've been nothing but trouble for me but I just wanna say, Don't make someone's kid pregnant and don't catch a cold, your sneezing is annoying", Dad is always hard on me, but he did that to make me strong, he is a very warm person.

"yeah you too, don't go drinking too much old man, you're the best anyone could ever think of", I said it while hugging him, yet the first time on my life, I saw him cried, damn this Old man can cry?, it's making my uniform wet, but it is quite a rare scene, so I'll allow it.

I released my hug and carried my things, step out the door and behind me, My Mom is waving goodbye, next to Dad, and my siblings waving goodbye, and wishing me luck from the windows, I wave back and went on my way to the Academy, since it's far I need to ask for my neighbour who is a merchant and he is on his way to Jraven, The Capital Of Jraga Empire, the only think I could think of is how exciting it is, but no one knows the future for sure, let's just keep it a mystery.