The Surface of the Moon

High above the firmament, at the very peak of the clouds, lies the vast, pitch-black expanse of outer space. Starting from the thinnest reaches of the atmosphere and extending nearly three hundred thousand kilometers away is this planet's only satellite: the Moon.

The surface of the Moon was a desolate landscape of craters and jagged peaks. Vast plains of silent sand and stone stretched endlessly. From the outside, the celestial body appeared utterly devoid of life.

Yet, hidden within this silence was a vast and fantastical Secret Realm. The scenery here was a stark contrast to the rest of the lunar surface—a wide, ethereal blue sky, undulating waves of a great sea, and lush, verdant forests. It looked exactly like the world below, without a trace of the Moon's natural desolation.

This was the Secret Realm where the Lunar Capital was located. Under the influence of singular, extraordinary powers, it manifested a landscape entirely different from the external lunar surface. Currently, on the shores of this lunar paradise, two young women were strolling slowly.

Both appeared to be sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in purple dresses. One had pale purple hair tied in a single ponytail, while the other had pale blonde hair cascading down to her waist. One carried a sheathed long blade, and the other held a small folding fan. One appeared slightly older than the other.

"Oh my, Yorihime, it is truly rare for you to take a stroll with me like this. Usually at this time, aren't you busy training the moon rabbits?" the older girl with the fan and blonde hair, Watatsuki no Toyohime, asked with a smile.

"I gave them a day off to rest..." the girl with the ponytail and the long blade, Watatsuki no Yorihime, replied seriously. Upon hearing this, an expression of surprise flickered across Toyohime's face.

"A day off? Giving the moon rabbits leave without filing an application is a violation of the regulations, isn't it?" Toyohime said with a hint of mild reproach. Yorihime, however, seemed indifferent.

"The application wouldn't have been approved anyway; it would have been a waste of time. So, I simply granted them a day of leave directly. Their recent tasks have been far too heavy, and the grievances growing in private are mounting. It was necessary to provide some relief, otherwise, the situation would only worsen... If the superiors blame me for this later, so be it. It was something that had to be done," Yorihime continued, her expression firm. Toyohime looked at her sister, sighed softly, and smiled.

"You're still the same as ever, always sticking your neck out for those moon rabbits. No wonder every rabbit in the Lunar Capital wants to serve under you... But don't you realize how many times you've clashed with the higher-ups? How many people you've offended? If not for all those troubles caused by the moon rabbits, with your strength, you would already be a lunar sage with a seat in the Council of Sages."

"And what of it? How much could a single Sage change the status quo? Besides, other than Master, I truly have no desire to acknowledge those so-called Sages, nor do I wish to work alongside them," Yorihime replied decisively. Hearing this, Toyohime could only shake her head at her younger sister.

"Fine, let's not talk about that. I suggest you start preparing for a trip to the Earth. You might have a mission coming very soon."

"A mission? Sister, how do you know I'll have a mission to the Earth?" Yorihime asked, a trace of confusion on her face.

"Naturally, because there has been progress in the investigation of the lost princesses. I just submitted the latest intelligence to the Council of Sages. The Sages are in a meeting right now; I expect the results will be out shortly," Toyohime explained slowly. Yorihime's expression turned to one of shock.

"There's progress regarding the lost princesses? What kind of progress?" Yorihime asked urgently. Toyohime smiled before answering.

"According to the reports from the Shikigami sent to the surface, an interesting story has been circulating in the human realm of Japan recently. A noble girl calling herself Princess Kaguya is publicly selecting a husband. Many famous nobles have traveled specifically to pursue her. Further investigation revealed rumors that this Princess Kaguya was born from a stalk of bamboo over ten years ago," Toyohime said, her tone mysterious.

"Princess Kaguya... is this all just a coincidence?"

"To determine if it was a coincidence, I sent a Shikigami to the center of those rumors, Heian-kyo... There, for a fleeting moment, my Shikigami sensed the eternal power that belongs exclusively to a princess. Regardless of which one it is, the probability that a princess is currently in Heian-kyo is very high," Toyohime continued. Yorihime now understood the situation.

Just then, a figure flew toward them at high speed from the distant sky. Toyohime and Yorihime ended their conversation and looked toward the approaching figure. It was a person dressed in white with a hood, moving with incredible speed.

"A messenger from the Council of Sages..."

Observing the approaching figure, Yorihime heightened her alertness. When the messenger landed before the Watatsuki sisters, he immediately dropped to one knee and spoke to Yorihime.

"Lady Yorihime, the Sages have an emergency order for you. You must depart immediately for Heian-kyo on the Earth to investigate the whereabouts of the lost princess. Whomever you find, you must forcibly bring them back to the Lunar Capital immediately. Should you encounter any resistance during the process, you are authorized to eliminate it instantly!"

The messenger spoke respectfully. Yorihime was momentarily stunned, then nodded.

"I understand. I will go and prepare at once."

The messenger nodded, flew back into the sky, and vanished into the distant horizon. Watching him leave, Toyohime said, "They certainly move fast. Yorihime, go and prepare. I have a feeling that this trip to the surface won't be entirely smooth."

"Don't worry, Sister. There are few powers on the defiled Earth that can threaten me. If a lost princess truly is in Heian-kyo, no matter which one of them it is, I will bring her back," Yorihime said as she gripped the hilt of her long blade. Her gaze drifted toward the distance where the messenger had vanished, where the silhouettes of massive, towering buildings loomed faintly.

Just as Yorihime was about to leave to make her preparations, she suddenly thought of something. She turned back to Toyohime and asked seriously, "By the way, since we now know the possible whereabouts of the lost princesses, does that mean that child is now completely useless to the Sages?"