The Great Crisis of Phantasmoon's Changing Expression at the End of the Century

The Great Crisis of Phantasmoon's Changing Expression at the End of the Century

An anonymous research report on "Phantasmoon." While the first section is thorough and detailed, the latter part seems hastily concluded. Here are some excerpts... Investigative Report (I) A moon hangs high in the sky of Planarcadia. The people here call it the Moon of Elation, also known as "Phantasmoon." Day and night, all of Planarcadia bathes in the Radiance of this lunar phase. People turn a blind eye to the existence of "Phantasmoon," but before our ship even landed, just looking through the porthole, I immediately noticed how different it was from our common understanding. This is a moon that's showing a smile. Note: Any celestial body with an "expression" cannot be classified as a real satellite in astronomical terms. Indeed, despite the crowds of people walking under the moon and its apparent waxing and waning phases, from a visitor's point of view, I don't believe this is a real moon at all. Investigative Report (III) ...With permission from Pearluxe Corp, during the intervals of ship maintenance, I was granted access to Planarcadia's archives of sealed scrolls and ancient texts to research the history of this place during the period known as "Benzaitengoku," and of course, what intrigued me most was "Phantasmoon" itself. Records show that the smile of Phantasmoon wasn't eternally unchanging, yet it had displayed various expressions from sadness to mockery to anxiety, as vivid as a living being. Whenever the expression of Phantasmoon changed, it signaled that a major event with significant social impact would occur in Planarcadia. However, throughout my dozens of days investigating here, no anomalies have been observed. — Note: While the collective unconscious theory might explain Phantasmoon's expressions as a manifestation of group consciousness, the people of Planarcadia have a different take: they're the multiple phases of Aha, the Aeon of Elation. ...The imagenae of the arcadia survive on Wishpower. While the strength of Wishpower is related to the waxing and waning of the "Phantasmoon," it can't be simplified to popular notions like "full moons cause werewolves to transform." I am contemplating a more appropriate and well-researched way to describe this phenomenon... Investigative Report (VI) ...Since I came here by spaceship, why not try approaching and landing on "Phantasmoon" by it? Ever since this idea took root, I began preparing for my expedition to the Phantasmoon. Surprisingly, there was hardly any need for paperwork or approval processes, and with no official resistance whatsoever, my spacecraft launched without a hitch. Gazing at the moon in the azure sky, as I drew closer and closer, I felt my emotions were pulled by its gravity, surging uncontrollably. Almost there, almost there... But just as I was about to touch down on the surface, I made a shocking discovery: "Phantasmoon" couldn't be landed on at all! It was as if it were merely a thin sheet of oil-soaked paper, and the spacecraft passed right through it... Wrong, wrong, it's all wrong. How could this be? I woke up in a cold sweat! Suddenly realizing everything just now was merely a dream. "Phantasmoon" still hangs high in the sky, and though wearing a smile, remains far beyond my reach. My spaceship still isn't fixed. With a bitter smile, I pondered in my disappointment: People must be prevented from ascending to the Phantasmoon for some reason, right? Otherwise, wouldn't the people of Planarcadia have done it already? Why did it have to fall to me to investigate? Investigative Report (VII) ...Time quickly advanced to 1999, the end of the century. The lunar phases changed, and people spoke of how the Phantasmoon was about to become full. Ever since I had that dream, whenever I gaze at the Phantasmoon, an unsettling feeling slowly wells up inside me. Perhaps it's an aftereffect of the nightmare, or maybe I've developed some kind of mental condition called "lunaphobia"? Or could it be that the deeper I investigate and the more information I uncover, the more subconscious anxiety is being implanted in my mind? The ship repairs are complete. I've decided to conclude my investigation and leave Planarcadia before the next Phantasmoon Games. This time, my ship will once again pass by the Phantasmoon, perhaps the closest I'll ever get to it. But I've abandoned any thoughts of getting closer. As I started up the ship, I thought I saw a look of compassion in the nearly-full moon's face. But in the blink of an eye, Phantasmoon returned to its usual smile, just as it always does. I guess it really was just my imagination. ...