In the ongoing search for Queen Escalina, Hitomi, Van, and Shian are drawn into the magical Forest of Deception. Amidst haunting images of Van's mother being murdered, the small group must battle two powerful Zaibach warriors - Colt and Shilha, Knights of Gold and Silver. When the two women capture Hitomi and Escaflowne, Hitomi's consciousness is thrown back to Earth. Shocked, Hitomi shakily falls back into a normal pattern of life back at home, but soon finds that she must return to Gaea. Van and Allen travel to Ubdo to perform the difficult spell of summoning, but no one can predict whether she'll return to their care or to where her Energist body lies...in the very headquarters of the Zaibach Empire itself. Success will take all of Van's ability, the strength of Hitomi's heart...and a miracle.