Hugo, a Karayan boy, is sent as Clan Chief Lucia's envoy to Zexen's capital, Vinay del Zexay. Simultaneously, a battle between Zexen and Grassland begins. Hugo and his party are seized by the Zexen Knights. They narrowly excape back to their village. As they approach their village, they find that Chris the Zexen Knight Captain has set it ablaze. Enraged, Hugo's best friend Lulu raises his sword, but is slashed to death by Chris. After the Knights depart, Hugo, reproached by his helplessness, visits Lulu's grave.
