Seto examined the sleeping figures of the children closely. Ian was quite tall for his age, with a messy mop of dark chestnut hair.

Adam was a smallish child with hair that could not seem to decide what it wanted to do. It splayed out in every direction, plastering itself to Adam's forehead and sticking up as odd places.

Mitch had curled up into a tiny ball and sucked his thumb. He seemed to still be oblivious to the dangers of the world. Good. That would make it easier for Seto to train him.

Jerome was covered in fluffy brown fur, with a small black nose like a dog. He was indeed a Maledictus, a animal-human hybrid. He could not be much older than Mitch.

Seto smiled faintly, then turned to walk away, when something caught his eye. Had he seen it? A glimmer of blue? Seto turned and searched for the oddity, then he saw it. Ian's eyes were open, ever so slightly, which he caught before Ian clamped his eyelids back together.

"Hello Ian. I know you're awake," Seto said, and Ian opened his eyes. His eyes shone even brighter face to face. He spoke quietly, "Who are you?"

"Seto Mirabilia. Royal Scientist and sorcyrer. You are Ian Oculis, 7 years old from Sector 7." Seto said, and was amused at the look of confusion on his face and continued. "You are a Lyght and Aqua Magykian, a rare set of talents. I look forward to seeing what we can do with that." Seconds slid by slowly.

"Where am I?" Ian finally responded after an agonizing silence.

"Somewhere very far away from home." And with that Seto turned and left.

Ian was left alone with his thoughts, and the more he thought about Seto's words, the deeper they cut. Somewhere deep inside him, a piece of his heart twisted with sadness and grief. Somehow, he knew he would not see his mother for a long time.