Ep 2. The Girl from the Mystic Moon

Hitomi finds herself transported to the world of Gaea after her tarot reading is disrupted by a beam of light. Now stranded in an unfamiliar world, she is found by Allen Schezar, a knight from the land of Asturia. He offers to take her to his kingdom, but they are attacked by the Zaibach empire, a powerful force that seeks to control Gaea.

While fleeing from their attackers, Hitomi and Allen are saved by Van, the young prince of the Kingdom of Fanelia who wields an ancient dragon armor called Escaflowne. Van is seeking revenge against the Zaibach empire for the destruction of his kingdom and the death of his family. He reluctantly agrees to take Hitomi to Asturia, but only because she possesses the ability to control the legendary dragon machine, which is said to be the key to defeating Zaibach.

Hitomi struggles to adapt to her new surroundings, and her constant desire to return home causes friction among the group. Meanwhile, the Zaibach empire sends a spy to infiltrate the Kingdom of Asturia and discover the location of Escaflowne.

As they journey across Gaea, Hitomi begins to have strange visions that hint at a greater destiny for her. She also develops feelings for both Allen and Van, but is unsure which one to follow. The group faces more danger as they encounter a powerful Zaibach machine called the Guymelef, which forces them to retreat into the Mystic Valley.

In the Mystic Valley, Hitomi meets Merle, a cat-like girl who is fiercely loyal to Van. Hitomi learns that Merle is also from Earth, having been brought to Gaea by a Zaibach experiment. Merle confides in Hitomi that Van is not himself since the destruction of Fanelia, and that she believes he is being manipulated by an unknown force.

As they leave the Mystic Valley, they encounter a group of wandering travelers and their leader, a mysterious man named Dryden. He offers to help them in their fight against Zaibach, but his true motives remain unclear.

The group arrives in Asturia, but their peace is short-lived as they are attacked by a Zaibach assassin. Hitomi uses her visions to predict the assassin's movements, allowing Van and Escaflowne to defeat him. However, the spy within Asturia is still at large, and the group must remain on guard.

Hitomi's journey in Gaea continues to unravel as she attempts to understand the mystical powers that she possesses, and her growing connection with the world and those in it.