For the next few days Palas was busy with preparations for the mission. A small leviship was chartered and what was left of the crew from Fanelia was assembled. Van didn't want a large team. This was to be a scout mission. They would get in close to the border and look for any signs of melef production and testing. Van hoped that proximity to the border might give Hitomi's clairvoyance a chance to gather more information.
Hitomi spent her time practicing with the pendant. She hadn't had any success with transportation, but she was beginning to be able to control her clairvoyance. She was able to see things outside of her normal vision. She could sense a person's presence behind a closed door, and tune in to listen to conversations out of earshot. These were small successes, but she had control over them and could use the power at will, instead of just by chance, or out of emergency.
Van would come to watched as she practiced. Since their arrival in Palas, it was rare to see them apart. Hitomi spent her evenings alone, in her own room, and Van had his responsibilities in preparation for the mission, but at all other times Van was at her side. However, they never spoke about what it meant. Hitomi noticed that she had become able to sense his presence, but the connection between their minds, and hearts, did not seem to have returned. Hitomi often wondered what it was that was keeping them separate. Van had been the one to sever their connection when she had been on Earth, but since coming back she thought they could have it back. Her thoughts seemed to be in vain though, and she did not have the confidence to bring it up, so their time spent together revolved around the coming mission and Hitomi's slowly growing powers.
On the eve of the the mission launch, one last council meeting was called to finalize the plan and introduce the crew. Hitomi hurried through the halls. She had been practicing in the courtyard and lost track of time. Van had already been away assembling the crew and procuring last minute provisions. The council room was not full and it seemed members were still arriving, so Hitomi was relieved. She took a seat near one end of the table. She spotted Van speaking to one of the counselors and made eye contact. He quickly dismissed himself and took the seat beside her.
"I think everything is in order. We had trouble finding one of the crew, but he just arrived." He said as he sat down.
"Who was missing? I thought the crew was full?"
"There was one last person I wanted with us. We needed someone to back up Allen in commanding the leviship. I'm leading this mission, and Daniel is an ambassador. Allen is captain, but even with a small crew, he can't be everywhere. I'm also worried about Celena. If something happens, we need someone who can take up his mantel and captain the ship. "
"Who did you find?" Asked Hitomi. The corner of Van's mouth curled up in a half smile, but he didn't respond. Millerna had entered the room, and everyone stood. She found her way to the head of the table, brought the meeting to order and sat. Everyone in the room sat as well.
"Tomorrow, five brave heroes will set out to unveil the secrets behind the recent attacks on Asturia. They have committed to a most dangerous mission. The most important functions of the team will be stealth and cunning observation. This is not a mission of war. We have suspicions only. This mission may determine the future of Asturia. If their mission is successful, we will know whether or not our borders have been attacked by raiders and scavengers who are stragglers from the last war, or by a growing power behind the closed borders of Zaibach. If it is indeed Zaibach, they may already be expecting us to take action.
"The ship that has been chartered is small and quick. It is known for its maneuverability and speed. Hopefully, this will give us the advantage at least until information can be brought back. The crew is small as well, specifically chosen for certain strengths and knowledge. Please, will the crew stand as you are introduced so that the council and others gathered here may know your faces." Millerna gestured towards the table of council members. Hitomi hadn't noticed before, but the perimeter of the room had filled with many of the other servants and guests of the palace.
"To lead this expedition, Van Fanel, King of Fanelia and dear friend to Asturia. His courage and his knowledge of Zaibach will undoubtedly be indispensable on this mission. " Van stood and bowed his head to the audience.
Millerna continued. "Daniel Evelyn will serve as ambassador and Asturia's eyes and ears during and after the mission." Daniel stood. " Hitomi Kanzaki, who is known throughout Asturia as the Girl from the Mystic moon, will contribute her powers of Clairvoyance. With any luck, she will be able to glean knowledge from behind the walls of Zaibach in total secret." Hitomi stood. She had not realized her powers had become so well known. If they weren't before, they were now. Hitomi wasn't sure Millerna's announcement of her powers was a good idea. She could feel Van's uneasiness beside her. He seemed to have similar feelings about the announcement.
Hitomi suddenly realized that she did seem to be actually feeling Van's uneasiness. She couldn't be absolutely sure, but it was there. She was feeling his mind, at least a little bit. She amplified her own thoughts and tried her best to express I know, this may be dangerous. She couldn't feel any kind of response, but she would have to ask later. Perhaps it was time they began working on their connection. Hitomi told herself that she wanted it because it could be useful for the mission, but her heart beat a little faster anyway.
Millerna called the next name. "Allen Schezar. As a previous Knight Caeli and captain of the leviship Crusade, he served Asturia faithfully and with sword skill unmatched by any I know of. He will captain the mission on the leviship and oversee day to day matters." Allen was dressed, for the first time in many years it seemed, in the uniform of the Knights Caeli. Hitomi thought he looked as regal as he ever did, though older and slimmer. The stress of the war and the time after was readily evident on his face. "Allen's previously long lost sister, Celena, will accompany the mission. She was once a prisoner of the Zaibach empire and may have important information or memories that may ease the mission." Of course, there was no way Millerna could tell the council the real reason for Celena's presence. Oh yes, this is Allen's little sister who just by chance, also happens to be Dilandau, the most bloodthirsty of Zaibach's dragon slayers. Hitomi almost laughed at the absurdity of the situation. After Celena's first outburst in the palace when she tried to kidnap Hitomi, Allen had kept her well secured in their rooms. Hitomi didn't have any idea how they were going to deal with Celena, or Dilandau, while on such a small leviship trying to stay unseen.
"Finally, as second in command to Allen on the ship, let me introduce Gaddes. His name is not as well known as the others, but he served in the last war upon the Crusade, and is familiar with Allen and the rest of the crew. He will be able to take command easily in Allen's stead should the need arise, and has equal skills in piloting." Gaddes stood. Hitomi was a little surprised that she was so happy he was coming along. They had never been close, but he had seemed like a fixture in the crew beside Allen. Hitomi hadn't even noticed he was missing. Now she couldn't imagine the mission happening without him. She glanced at Van, and he smiled. So that was who he had been talking about.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the council, I give you the crew of the leviship Mercury, may they be safe in their travels, stealthy, and may they bring us good news." The whole room erupted in applause. Hitomi wasn't sure how to feel. She did not feel hopeful that they would bring back good news. She was sure Zaibach was actually behind the attacks, and that could only mean trouble. She wanted to know what their motives were and what they were planning. With enough information she hoped they may be able to prevent whatever impending doom she had seen in her visions. She could tell in her mind that Van was feeling similarly. Her heart beat a little faster.
Hitomi was suddenly very aware that Van was right beside her, that there was not even an inch between his hand and hers. She wanted to hold his hand, to brush it and make him aware of it too, but she did not have the courage. In all of the time they had been spending together, he never made any advances or any sign that he wanted anything more than just to make sure she was safe.
The applause began to die down and Millerna motioned for the crew to sit. As Hitomi was sitting she felt something brush her hand. Her nerves were alight with sensation that radiated from the point of contact. Could it have been? Had Van been feeling the same thing she was? Maybe it was just an accident. They had been standing very close, and they had both moved to sit at the same time. She dismissed it as being just that. Her mind was so full of hope, that she didn't dare trust that maybe they weren't all her own feelings. Life had been so much easier before she knew she had feelings. Well, it had been easier except for the war. It had been easier to work beside Van. It had been easier before he severed his thoughts from her.
There was quiet murmuring throughout the room. Hitomi tried to distract herself from her thoughts by focusing on the people in the crowd. They seemed excited but also agitated.
One man stepped forward from the crowd. He bowed his head to Millerna. "Pardon me, your majesty, but on behalf of myself and my colleagues, I would like to ask a question." The man was thin, and probably looked older than he actually was. He wrung his hat in his hands.
"I will permit your question." Millerna nodded to the man.
"Well, your majesty, this seems like a lot of work to go to, when you have the dragon available. Why is it you do not just send the Escaflowne? Isn't that what ended the war before?" There were nods of agreement from the crowd. Hitomi had no idea the public knew so much about their involvement in the war. Since returning to Gaia, she had learned that she was a legend, and Van was a hero. She still had trouble believing any of it. These people had no idea what they were asking. Hitomi could feel Van tensing beside her. She glanced over to see an ominous darkness in his expression.
"I once had that thought as well, but the legendary ispano guymelef is not available." Millerna sat back, as if the subject were closed, but the murmur from the audience rose and the man seemed to find more courage.
"Well, why not? Did something happen to it? We all owe our lives to Lord Fanel and Escaflowne. It was not destroyed in the war, at least not that anyone has heard. Wouldn't it be faster than an extravagant spy mission? Lord Fanel, won't you resurrect the great Guymelef?" The man had turned his attention directly to Van. The low talk in the hall had now become louder and more urgent. Even the counselors were beginning to talk among themselves about why that hadn't been an option and about how much easier it would be.
Van stood, his hands pressed as fists into the table. "No! I absolutely will not. You do not know the consequences of what you ask." The room fell completely silent. "Do you want another war?! This is a mission of reconnaissance, nothing more. Escaflowne is a machine for battle! Furthermore, Zaibach knows of Escaflowne, they would be expecting it. Are you all idiots? I will not awaken Escaflowne. It should never have been woken in the first place!" Van slammed his hands on the table and stormed from the room. As soon as he was gone, the room erupted in agitated conversation again.
Hitomi got up from her seat and follower after Van. She did not even have to think about where he might be going, she could feel exactly where he was. She could also feel his turmoil. She could feel guilt and regret.
Hitomi rounded the corner of the hallway and spotted Van just as he slammed his fist into the palace wall. He let out a yell as he did, then leaned up against the same wall, seemingly sapped of his strength. He looked up when he heard her coming.
"They don't understand." He put his hands over his face. "Escaflowne. I grew up with legends of Escaflowne, the guardian god of Fanelia. The true kings of Fanelia are the only ones born with the power to control it. You remember that right? Each king is blood bound to Escaflowne. It is a sacred pact between Fanelia itself and the king." Hitomi leaned against the wall next to Van.
"Escaflowne is only to be awakened in times of great emergency. When... When Fanelia was under attack, that was the right time to awaken Escaflowne, but... had I known Escaflowne was what they were after, I never would have." He hung his head. Hitomi could feel the regret pulsing through him. She wasn't sure what she could say.
"Van... You didn't have a choice did you? It's what you were supposed to do... and besides, Dornkirk wanted more than just Escaflowne. He was trying to stop you from preventing his success. He was trying to stop both of us. It wasn't even Escaflowne that ended the war... The people in there don't know that."
"I know. The war didn't end until I abandoned Escaflowne, and the war, and went after you."
Hitomi was a little startled that he mentioned her. They hadn't talked about any of that. They hadn't even talked about what it really meant. Somehow, at the time, they both just seemed to know.
"That is why Escaflowne has to stay asleep as the silent guardian of Fanelia and of Gaia. It is only by our own power that we can win." As Van said his last sentence, he suddenly twined his fingers between Hitomi's. There was sure resolve in his voice, but his hands were cold. Hitomi wasn't sure anymore if it was her own nerves she was feeling or his. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she was sure he could hear it. "Tomorrow we are setting out on a dangerous journey. I know we need your skills, but... " His voice faltered. Hitomi squeezed his hand inadvertently. "But... I am afraid. I am so afraid of something happening to you. I wish I could just order you to stay here."
"You can't do that." Said Hitomi, suddenly herself afraid that he might just try it. "Besides... I am scared too..."
"The real truth is, I lost so many people because of Escaflowne... I even almost lost myself. I almost lost you... I don't want to reawaken that kind of trouble."
Van's hand was beginning to warm in Hitomi's. Holding hands. This was the first time wasn't it? Hitomi's mind raced through her memories trying to find anything that reminded her of this. The most close she could ever remember being with Van was a hug. There was something much more intimate about having their fingers laced between each other.
"Hitomi..." Van's other hand was lightly touching Hitomi's cheek. Their faces were very close. Hitomi's heart rate increased again. She didn't know what to do. She was suddenly conscious of her breath, which she began to hold. Chills ran down her spine. She could feel an eagerness from Van's mind that she had never experienced before. His fingers tickled her cheek. What was this feeling from him? Hitomi felt like they stood like that forever, their fingers entwined, Van's hand on her cheek...
Van let his hand fall from her face and turned away. "We should get some rest. There is a lot to do tomorrow." He untangled his fingers from hers and began to walk towards the guest wing. Hitomi caught up to him and walked beside him until they reached the rooms, and she headed towards her own.
"Hitomi." She turned around to see Van stopped in his doorway. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." She replied, then hurried on to her room.
The crew assembled early in the morning with the last of their luggage. All Hitomi had was her duffle bag. She wondered if there would ever be a time she would own more now that she planned to stay. That, of course, was assuming they made it through this journey. The thought only depressed her. Van was busy organizing the crew and speaking with Millerna, but when their eyes met Hitomi noticed a faint smile, and she felt a flutter in her chest. What had last night been about?
Was Van finally forgiving her for her arrival on Gaia? Hitomi herself felt they were more or less even now. He had almost killed himself trying to save her. She was starting to understand, just a little, what upset him so much about her attempt. The leviship was packed, the crew boarded, and farewells were said. Millerna gave her official 'Goodbye, and good luck' speech to a small crowd that had gathered. Hitomi stood between Van and Allen on the deck of the Mercury. Hitomi could feel the hum of machinery beneath her. Once again she was in the air on a dangerous mission involving zaibach. The leviship slowly pulled away from the ramps and Palas began to fall into the distance.