Vajra Jewelry and Gift Shop was a small but well-known store in Mini Manila's busiest street, tucked between a cafe and an Indian restaurant. As you enter the establishment, It would be hard not to notice the smell of jasmine and the assortments of gemstones with varying sizes, weights, and shimmering colors. It was also hard not to spend a dollar in the store, as though you were under its spell the minute you walked in. The only people who walked out without a new bracelet (or ten) or a maneki-neko had zero cash on them from the start.

Brad, the shopkeeper, treated Vajra as her second home. Her loyalty to the store went as far back as when Vajra opened its doors to the public. Now, the jewelry store was under Howard's management. But Brad's unwavering devotion stayed, regardless of whether her new boss was a walking, talking cat.

It was a Tuesday afternoon, and Brad was tying the knot to a new tourmaline bracelet. The front door's bell rang, and Brad was pulled away from her handiwork. Brad immediately recognized Paul, stumbling into the store. The teenager's hoodie was crumpled and thrown back, revealing his tangled hair and bruised cheek. The shopkeeper got out of her chair and helped Paul into a seat.

"Paul! What happened to you, son?" Brad asked as Paul struggled to get comfortable.

Paul groaned and stretched before answering, "I got into a fistfight at school. This one dude tried to steal my chocolate. I told him to screw off, and all of a sudden, he punched me in the face and chest!"

Brad gently touched the bruise on Paul's cheek, channeling magic to ease the pain. Paul winced but instantly calmed down when the pain throughout his body was washed away. Brad then took a comb from her drawer and smoothened the tangled strands on Paul's head.

"Were any students or teachers able to step in to stop the fight?" Brad asked.

Paul shook his head. "After the initial punch, I punched the guy in the chest. He was about to hit me again, but I threw the chocolate at his face and left the campus running. Thank god I didn't have any more classes."

Brad looked at Paul from top to bottom. She frowned. "If only you had as much meat as I do, no one would dare bully you."

Brad was not wrong, Paul thought. The shopkeeper was twice Paul's height and weight. She could easily scare anyone away with just the right glare. The only attributes he and Brad shared were their short hair, light skin color, and affinity to gemstone bracelets.

 "What am I going to do?" Paul moaned. "I'm gonna see that guy again tomorrow."

"I can buff you up with a magic spell," Brad suggested.

"I don't want to fight, Brad. I'd rather not make a big scene and blend in like any other day."

Brad walked around the store, thoughtfully rubbing her chin. Paul was about to grab his backpack and go straight to his room when Brad suddenly dashed to him with a large grin.

"Tomorrow, son, I want you to go to school as you normally would," Brad instructed. "You do your thing, and I will handle the rest."

Paul gulped. "You better not make me ten feet tall and give me fire-breathing abilities."

Bard released a hearty laugh before patting Paul's shoulder. "Don't worry, your little head, son. Your big sister Brad has got you covered."

If there was one thing Paul looked forward to when it came to school, it was afternoon breaks. It usually meant sitting on one of the many benches in the school courtyard, taking shade under a pine tree, and enjoying a tasty chocolate bar while watching videos on his phone.

But this Wednesday afternoon, Paul was feeling nothing but anxiety as he sat at his usual spot. He gingerly fished for a pack of chocolates from his backpack, looking left to right for any signs of the bully.

And like clockwork, the familiar face of the guy from yesterday became clear from the sea of students. Passerbys nervously watched on the sideline as the guy stared at Paul with fury. Paul immediately got up, ready to sprint away any minute. But he stood there frozen instead when the bully towered over him.

"You should have known better than to show your face in this part of school," the bully threatened.

Paul raised his chest in a vain effort to appear more dominant. He replied in the least shaky voice that he could muster, "You don't own this school, buddy. And I can have my chocolate wherever I want."

"You're pretty brave for someone all skin and bones," the bully taunted. "But I'm afraid we have some unfinished business from yesterday. Why don't I have more of that chocolate of yours?"

Paul shut his eyes, ready to take in another punch. But before his fist could make contact, the bully's pants suddenly came undone and yanked onto the ground.

 Onlooking students gasped when the bully was suddenly pantsed out of nowhere. Some students giggled to themselves, and others pulled out their cellphones to take pictures and videos. But for Paul, he could only stand petrified in his place.

The bully shouted as he desperately fixed his pants. When he saw Paul's face, his head grew hotter. He screamed, "Why, you little-

But before he could lay his hands on Paul, a sharp stabbing pain flourished through his stomach. The bully fell onto the floor, pants unproperly done, clutching his stomach. Paul immediately grabbed his backpack and made a dash to the school gate. He turned his head back and saw that other students were perplexed while helping the bully up. The last thing Paul heard was: "This is not the last time we'll meet, hoodie boy! You better be ready!"

Paul made his escape back home unharmed. Meanwhile, two distant figures were watching the bully scrambling to his feet.

"Are you sure this was a wise decision? Paul could easily find himself in trouble," Howard said. He was perched on top of the school metal fence.

Brad relaxed her magical hand, releasing the stomach-churning spell from the guy. She leaned against the fence, smirking. "Don't worry, I'll cast a spell to make Paul invisible from that guy for the rest of his stay here in school. I just needed to see who the bully was and give him a taste of payback."

Howard hummed. "Remind me to enroll our boy into a self-defense class someday. He should not forever be reliant on your magic, you know."

"You have a point. But as long as I am strong and magic runs through my veins, I'll do everything to protect the people I love."