Van wanders the festive streets with Merle. He has already proclaimed the opening of the festival to the kingdom, as is the custom. Now he has time to look at stalls and booths. He would rather be back at the castle now, but the voice tells him, that if he leaves, the talk will spread faster. He is sure he can almost hear the voices of the people accusing him now. Yet still he walks, driven on by the voice.
They are getting closer to the places where stalls sell more drink and food, then wares. Merle would rather turn back, but Van walks on as if guided to them.
She spots the sign first.
"Look Lord Van, it says 'Fortunes Read' that sounds fun doesn't it."
"I don't know, there was only one who wasn't a trickster, who did the real thing."
"Oh please, lets stop, all you have been doing is walking, and I want to see something."
Van sighs, but then the voice whispers for him to go there. So he does. As they approach the tent, a man and his very pregnant wife are leaving. They are excited.
"I can't believe it, she knew so much, how we met, and the baby we lost. I can't wait to have this baby now that I know it (she laughs) he will be healthy. I have never seen a fortune teller use cards, they were so beautiful." The wife is still laughing happily as they continue down the street.
Van is stunned, cards, no one on Gaea uses cards to tell fortunes. Merle has heard this too, and stops Van from entering.
"Maybe this isn't such a good idea, food and drink are available just down a little further."
"Yes they are Merle, you go and get us some while I have my fortune told."
"But Lord Van."
"Go Merle, now!"
She leaves, as he approaches the tent. There is a girl outside, taking money from the customers. Van stops there, what's that he feels from her. Home and family, he hasn't felt that for a very long time. He shakes his head as if that would rid him of the feeling.
The voice telling him to ignore this unimportant one. The one he wants is inside.
"How much to have my fortune told?"
Cosima looks up at the young man. A wave of nausea sweeps her as she feels the spirit around, but not in him. 'Take care, her spirit whispers, don't let it see your fear.'
"Two pieces, three if you want past, present and future."
"Here's five, make sure I'm not disturbed while I'm in there."
He hands her the silver, then enters the tent. He didn't know what to expect, but not a young girl, small and frail looking with an expression of sadness on her beautiful face.
"Sit, and we will begin. First past."
Cherry lays out the first card. Van breathes in sharply, for it is the Serpent of Dragons. She has the same cards as Hitomi, but how can that be, the cards, as well as the telling with them are from the Mystic Moon, no one on Gaea has that knowledge.
"You are the King. Van Fanel. I am honored by your presence here Lord."
She lays out more cards. An expression of surprise on her face.
"The cards say you are a Draconeon, one of the winged people, bonded by blood pact to Escaflowne, the guymelth. Your trails in your youth, though you still seem to be young were great, the loss of your family, and the destruction of your country were the driving force in your life."
"Lots of people know that about me, tell me something that's not already common knowledge, or I leave now and take back my money."
"You have been to the, the, " she pauses, "To the Mystic Moon there you found your love. A love you cherish even now."
"Enough of my past what of the present."
"You are troubled, you blame yourself for," again she stumbles the cards are telling her too much, sad things, and they warn her of the presence of evil. "For her death. Oh My God, she was in such great pain and you felt it yet could do nothing."
The king is looking at her as if he wished to silence her forever, maybe just one more card will reveal something good. She lays it down and gasps, The Lovers.
"No, not me, she is the ghost the ghost from the past. These are her cards reborn."
She looks up, the look in his eyes is on the brink of insanity. She must get out of here, now! Cherry grabs at her cards, running out of the tent as fast as possible, leaving one card remaining, The Death Card.
Van watches her run, his mind is rolling, then the voice comes, 'She is Hitomi reborn, find her, cage her or you will loose her again.
Van leaves the tent, his hand tightly gripping the handle of his sword.
"Guards find that woman, do not let her escape. Bring her to me at the castle."
His shouting brings guards from all over. They quickly run to do their Kings bidding. Merle has arrived back at the tent, the food and drink dropped and forgotten in the commotion. Van grabs the girl outside the tent.
"Tell me who is she. Tell me now or die!"