Margiela the Stargazer

While working as a fortune-telling witch offering guidance in the divination house of Night Chains Land, Margiela never needs to wield her Ascension Ability. That power serves no purpose within this little dreamlike haven. She merely listens to people's troubles and perplexities, and offers uplifting replies based on her own observation and judgment.

"Isn't it wonderful? Everyone leaves feeling lighter, smiles returning to their eyes... No Ascension Abilities could ever do this!" Magira's voice brims with uncontained delight as she speaks. "I cannot truly solve all their troubles, yet in this fleeting moment, I've sown seeds of magic in their hearts. Someday, they will surely take root and bloom."

Magira waves her magic wand. Under her deft control, her immense power condenses into a dazzling star at the wand's tip, brightening her glowing face and the person before her.

"This is incredibly powerful magic, isn't it? But..."
The witch tilts her head and flashes a mischievous grin.
"You're far better at casting this spell, Dear Conductor! I've already fallen under its charm, and there's no way to break free... You will take full responsibility for me, won't you?"

"So this is Margiela's shop? It's amazing!"
After Margiela invited Masaki over to her cosplay costume store, Masaki couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

"I can handle my abilities much more freely now, and I'm able to make custom adjustments for others too." Margiela said as she showed Masaki what she could do. "This way, when people put on the outfits, they truly feel like they've become the character, instead of just wearing clothes that look the same."

"You're truly outstanding, Margiela."
No longer do they share that profound sense of merging into one being, yet the intimate rapport between these two kindred souls still remains. Margiela knew Masaki meant every word, not just empty courtesy.
She broke into a gentle smile.
"And you're truly adorable, Masaki."
"Huh? B-but... I mean... I'm indeed younger than you, but we're not talking about the same thing..."

Seeing her flustered look, Margiela laughed heartily, and the embarrassed Masaki soon smiled along with her. Their reflections in the shop window looked just like real sisters. Perhaps this was exactly the warm sight that lonely witch had always yearned for.

After learning the whole story, Margiela once thought about going home to visit her parents.
She wanted to tell them that she was living a happy life now. Most of all, she hoped to let her mother know that witches were nothing to be feared.

Thinking back to how her mother could only secretly use Ascension Ability to ease her burdens when no one was around, Margiela believed her youthful mother must have longed for someone to tell her that life need not be lived in constant dread, and that no vicious witch would lay curses upon others.

Yet she knew full well that the fear of witches had long taken deep root in her family's minds. If she, now a witch, showed up out of the blue, things would surely end badly.

Thus Margiela chose to bring joy to everyone in her identity as a witch, by working as a fortune-teller at Night Chains Land, crafting dream-weaving costumes at Pupil's Fashion, and eliminating hidden dangers within Bonfire Cities as a Night Chains executor.

She held a firm hope. Someday, just as the surface world was influenced by Imperial witch culture, the beloved image of witches from the surface would spread back to the Empire, gradually fading away all prejudices against them.

People would no longer regard all witches as evil beings, and her family would no longer live in fear of illusory terrors.

By then, the ideal world once longed for by the ordinary girl named Betty would surely come true.