CHAPTER 1:DRAGONSLAYER GREETINGS

As the sun rose in Gaea Hitomi Kanzaki found herself standing on the lower terrace of the Crusade's main airship.
The peaceful silence of the morning sun rise was shattered by the whine of flying guymelefs approaching.
Hitomi immediately recognized the blue guymelefs of the Dragonslayer's and the red of their bloodthirsty leader, Dilandau Albatau.
Guymelefs attacking! Hitomi yelled as she ran for the airship's main cockpit to warn the ship's captain, Allen Schezhar, and her traveling companion Van Fanel, the ruling king of Fanelia.
Unfortunately for everyone aboard the airship neither of them were fully awake to hear Hitomi's warning cry.
Just as Van and Allen reached their bedroom balconies after hearing Hitomi's cry they saw her still racing for the cockpit along an unrailed terrace when the Dragonslayer's guymelefs landed on the airship, causing the immense flying vessel to shake. Hitomi was tossed into the air like a rag doll when the shock wave reached her.
No, Hitomi! Van and Allen exclaimed in unison when they saw her fall.
Just as Hitomi began to plummet towards the ground she was snatched out of her fall by Dilandau Albatau in his guymelef, Alseides. "Hand over the Dragon and the Escaflowne, demanded Dilandau, Or the girl dies.
Hearing these words, Van stared to walk back into his room towards what we must assume is the Escaflowne.
Seeing Van start to leave Allen shouts: "Van, don't! It's just a trick to make you go with them!
If that's the way you want it, Dilandau said, Bye, bye, girly! And with those words he dropped Hitomi.
Hitomi, no! Van yelled as if he could stop her plummet with words. As those words left his mouth he threw himself off the balcony after Hitomi. He unfurled his wings as he picked up speed from his drop.
I'm never going to catch up with her! Thought Van as he kept falling, My speed isn't fast enough. As he thought he tucked his arms, legs, and wings to make himself descend faster towards Hitomi.
Hitomi, I'm coming! Van called as he caught up with her. He slowly extended his arm as he neared her. As they caught hands a blinding flash of blue light surrounded them.