A lean young boy with milky skin and white hair that were golden blonde at the end, was training himself doing various exercises that increased his endurance, strength and flexibility, targeting every muscle of his body. As his physical training came to an end, he was drenched with sweat and panting very much.

Wren was now a 9 year old boy, and he has been training for an year from now, all of this difficult training was for a trivial reason, though for him it was something he was doing it out of debt, towards the Valor clan for taking care of him by providing him shelter, food, and clothes when his own parents had abandoned him in the orphanage. 

The only way he can pay his debt was by becoming an Awakened for the Valor clan and support them, he learnt that they also take in children from the orphanage who were talented enough to be taken in the tutelage of a Saint in Valor clan.

The Nightmare Spell first appeared in the world a few decades ago. Back then, the planet was just starting to recover from a series of devastating natural disasters and subsequent resource wars.

At first, the emergence of a new disease that caused millions of people to complain about constant fatigue and sleepiness did not attract a lot of attention. But when they started to fall into an unnatural slumber, with no sign of waking up even days later, governments finally panicked. Of course, by then it was already too late - not that an early response could have made any difference.

When the infected started dying in their sleep, their dead bodies turning into monsters, no one was ready. Nightmare Creatures quickly overwhelmed national militaries, plunging the world into complete chaos. 

Pulling himself out of useless thoughts, he started to practice hand-to-hand combat arts, where his experience was very small as he didn't have a real sparring partner, but there was nothing he can do about this, sighing he started his practice, Wren was able to learn different styles due to his ability to breakdown a single move in pieces, no matter how complex the move was he was able to simplify it, showing his level of intelligence.

A few moments later, announcement was made that a Saint would be visiting the orphanage, it was expected for the children to the courtyard, but Wren didn't heard this or rather was too busy with his training. 

Soon a tall and slender woman visited the orphanage with the purpose of finding a talent to nurture, her posture straight like an arrow. She was wearing light steel armor, its pauldrons , and greaves decorated with white feathers. Her long blond hair was fluttering in the wind like a cascade of pale gold. She has amber eyes, and her face was cold and stunningly beautiful, more akin to a goddess than a human being. She was Saint Tyris of the White Feather Clan.

Walking to the courtyard of the orphanage she saw many children around 100 of them standing in the huge courtyard looking at her with cheerful and carefree smiles, Saint Tyris although no expression usually appear in front of her eyes had to force out a smile to the children. 

She had her conversation with various children in the orphanage and spotted only 4 children exposing a strong aura compared to their age, they had potential but not the one she was looking for, still they have something that separate them from others, sighing a bit she walked to the halls informing the headmaster of the orphanage about recruiting the 4 children, but then

..... her gaze fell on a single child which was not in the courtyard with the other children, training, he was drenched in sweat, that caused the white shirt he was wearing stick to his body show casing his lean yet strong and firm muscles. It was astonishing for a child who was no older than 9 years training this much but with a proficiency of a extreme level.

She called out the child, but he was so drowned in training that her voice was deaf to his ears, sighing and impressed with the concentration she walked towards the child, who only looked towards her after she was few steps away from him. He bowed to her and asked politely:

"Is there something you need from me?"

"No child, although I wonder what is driving you to train so much that you are not aware of your surroundings, oh! where are my manners I am Saint Tyris of the White Feather Clan."

Listening to her, Wren eyes widened and he gave her another bow and said: 

"I am sorry that I didn't recognize you earlier Saint Tyris." He raised himself and continued, "As for your question, I am training to pay a debt to Valor clan, for taking care of me for all these years in this orphanage."

Saint Tyris amused by the boy's reason, she has met many people who want to join the Valor clan for many reasons but she hasn't met a person like this boy who was driven to this much extent for a small reason like debt, she wonders if that boy had reason more powerful than this what would he look like then, interested she murmured: 

"Found you."

"Pardon?" Wren asked.

She just smiled at the child, this time it was natural, which was shocking for anyone who knew her as she always had and expressionless face.

"Uh, if you don't mind Saint Tyris can you give me an advice for my training?" Wren asked.

"You are doing very well for your current age, although you have learnt the moves perfectly you still lack the practical application, which will be solved by tomorrow. Other than that, I think currently you don't need any advices on other aspects."

Wren gave her another bow, giving her advice she turn around and started to leave, Wren was standing their staring at her back, when she left he started his training again. 

Soon he stopped and went to his room, and entered the bathroom, he stood in front of the mirror and gazed at his body which was shredded from everywhere unlike the kids of his age. He sighed and went for an hot shower relaxing his sore muscles.

Next day, he and other four children, who looked an year or two older than him were called to the headmaster room, they all were confused but Wren had a little bit of an idea of what was happening and was excited if what he was thinking was true.

"I understand that you all are confused for why, you are called here." The headmaster exclaimed.

Soon she began her explanation on how they were elected by Saint Tyris who visited them yesterday, and were now going to be taken by the Valor clan for training, everyone there was happy including Wren who didn't show it on his face. As she was finished with the explanation the headmaster said something absurd for all of them:

"Everyone except Wren, will go to the outside of the orphanage, a PTV from Valor clan is waiting for them." 

Wren didn't knew why he was stopped here, perhaps she wanted to discuss about something important related to him. Not knowing what the matter was he asked her politely:

"Is there something you need to tell me Headmaster?"

The headmaster gave her a gentle smile and replied:

"Ah! there is nothing to worry about little Wren, I stopped you because Saint Tyris is going to visit you and take you with her."

Wren eyes widened slightly and he smirked, understanding what she meant by yesterday and was now filled with more determination, seeing his fiery gaze the headmaster chuckled, soon the Saint also reached her destination and Wren and the Headmaster gave her a quick bow. The Saint keeping her expressionless face asked Wren:

"Ready to pay your debt?" 

Wren replied her with a voice filled with excitement and determination:

"I was born ready."

-7 YEARS LATER-

A young teen with medium sized white hair that were golden blonde at the tips of the hair was sitting in a dining room with a woman and man in there 30s, having a feasting dinner. The woman was sipping her tea and said:

"Wren, Now that you have reached the age of 16 the nightmare seed in your body will bloom very soon."

The young boy had finished his food and was sitting there, nodding with what the Saint had said, he replied or rather asked:

"Uh.. when I clear the first nightmare can I visit the academy for continuing my journey to the dream realm?"

His question though surprised the man or the Saint's husband, he decided to not ask the boy anything after all during these 7 years he has spend with the boy he knew there would be an appropriate reason behind his question, the Saint also knew this so she asked him:

"Wren I hope there is a valid reason for your request as now your not just a child from the orphanage taken under the Valor Clan but an actual part of the family."

During the seven years of his training Wren has showed results which were on par of an legacy trained under a clan, he had gained recognition of many Saints in the Valor Clan, that had made his position stronger. What he achieved was not normal, many people join the Valor Clan but were not able to become an actual part of the family.

"Uh might sound stupid but you know, my intuition is rarely wrong, I believe there will be many talent that will appear in the academy or that I will meet in the dream realm. So I plan to you know recruit these people."

Wren replied her, hesitant about her answer whether she will let him go to the academy or not, which was soon answered by the Saint:

"Well if it was my decision, I would have let you go but now things are different, I have to discuss this with the Valor Clan, though I can't assure you you will most probably be able to go to the academy."

Hearing this Wren's mood lighten up and he stood up and gave her a bow saying thanks for her help he excused himself from there. As he left Master Roan let out a sigh and turned his attention to his beautiful wife he asked:

"Do you think the Valor Clan will allow him?"

The Saint lingered for a moment than replied:

"Well, they will most probably, considering it is going to be a benefit for them."

Master Roan though not completely agreed with her but still considered that there was high chance for this happening, he sighed mentally.

'I hope you get what you want, Wren and I hope that you didn't forget that tomorrow is your birthday.'

Which he totally forgot, and went straight for sleep but that was when he realized that he wasn't sleeping but was rather surrounded by strange darkness, he was sure that he went for sleep and that's when he thought of a possibility which soon was confirmed by a voice that echoed in the darkness,

[Aspirant! Welcome to the Nightmare Spell. Prepare for your First Trial...]