As i am aware about you not finding this game "intuitive", i don't really think you're that type of player that really reads at least 40% of this game. After all, you already had the hint/tip you needed to access Crescent Hills, if you did everything. So i can't really understand you. The hint/tip is very simple: Look at your "LEADS" and see what Mystery is saying (LEARN HOW TO FIGHT!). In short, you need to talk Jessica in Manor's Garden. She'll teach you how to battle with this new Combat System. Basically a tutorial. After this Crescent Hills be unlocked to attack. Hope this help.
If I'm going to tell you my pure opinion about this comment, you're just lazy and don't make the slightest effort to play a EASY game like this. Even a 10-year-old can solve the "mystery" to access Crescent Hills, although is a adult game so that's not possible to happen, at least is what i hope.
So instead of complaining and saying that is not playing again or reccomending to anyone this game and blaming TheArcadean because you find his/her (or any pronouns TheArcadean prefers) game not intuitive, you should look for LEADS that is literally a hint/tip for everything. Straight to the point: Use your brain, it's not for decoration.