| Having fled from the attack by the invisible Guymelefs, Hitomi, Van, and Merle have fled Fanelia to the forest in the mountains. As Hitomi awakens, a strange Moleman is trying to steal her pendant. She belts out a fearful scream and is heard by Van, who is out scouting for her, but he is still far from her location. Fortunately, her cries are head by young swordsman with flowing blonde hair. He quips at the stranger and attacks him. He asks about Hitomi, and she realizes that he is a very close look-alike for her beloved Amano Sempai. She feels relieved and falls into his arms and weeps, as if she has actually found Amano. As Allen takes Hitomi in his arms, Van arrives and thinks Allen was the attacker. He draws his sword, and Allen warns him that a battle is futile. Ignoring the blonde "attacker", Van leaps into the fray and is taken down in a single attack by Allen. Hitomi is revived in a bed among strange men, and Allen suggests to them that they are frightening the girl. All is revealed later when Allen is discovered to be a knight of Asturia, a powerful trading nation. Van and Hitomi also learn that the fortress they are presently in is under attack by the Empire of Zaibach. As they speak, Zaibach floating fortresses storm into the area, led by Dilandau, leader of the Dragonslayers. He asks Allen to give munitions and support to his army, and if he has seen a strange looking Guymelef. Allen denies that he has, and Van makes an outburst. Allen covers for him, and a pissed-off Dilandau leaves. Van doesn't want to sit around not doing something, so he enters Escaflowne and goes out to fight. But as he reaches the outside, Allen waits for him, and to leave the fortress, Van will have to beat Allen.........
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