Where Light Embraces the Darkness

Khalil stood rooted in place, his arm still outstretched as the radiant shield of light shimmered protectively around Sira and her serpent bond. The air thrummed with the intensity of the power radiating from him, and his glowing golden eyes reflected the brilliance of the shield. 

The principal turned toward Khalil, his usually stoic face etched with surprise. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, two figures appeared beside him in a blur of motion—the blue-haired woman with a sharp, assessing gaze and the white-haired elder whose presence felt like a gust of wind.

The blue-haired woman, Maria's eyes darted between Khalil and the shield. "Why didn't you stop—" she began, her tone sharp, but the words faltered as her gaze locked on Khalil. 

Her expression shifted from confusion to shock as she took in the soft golden glow surrounding him. Khalil stood tall, his presence radiant with an almost tangible warmth that seemed to flow from within. The light emanating from his body wasn't harsh or overwhelming but soothing, like a beacon in the storm. 

"H-He's using his bond's powers already?" Maria muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, a mix of awe and disbelief. 

The white-haired elder, though more composed, frowned deeply as he scrutinized Khalil. 

Khalil turned his glowing gaze toward them, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "I need to clarify something," he said, his tone cutting through the tense atmosphere. "Are corrupt Dark Beasts and beasts with the Darkness element the same, or are they different?" 

The question hung in the air for a moment, and the three elders exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of astonishment and contemplation. Finally, the principal, who had been silent, answered, his voice measured. 

"They're different," he admitted. "But it's nearly impossible to distinguish between them. Their auras, their powers—everything about them feels the same. And beasts with the Darkness element are exceedingly rare. Tamers avoid them entirely, fearing they'll succumb to corruption." 

Khalil nodded, as if confirming something he already suspected. "That beast," he said, gesturing toward the serpent coiled protectively around Sira within the shield, "is a Darkness-element beast. And it's good. Please, stop the others quickly before this escalates further." 

The blue-haired woman's eyes narrowed, skepticism flashing across her face. The white-haired elder's frown deepened, and his voice was low and gruff. "How do you know?" he asked, his tone sharp, bordering on accusatory. "Can you take responsibility if you're wrong? If that thing turns out to be corrupt—" 

"I can," Khalil interrupted firmly, his voice unwavering. "My bond, the Guardian of Light, is helping me. With its power, I can identify a being's elements and alignment. For instance…" He paused, his glowing eyes shifting to the elder. "Your alignment is good, and your elements are Ice and Wind." 

The elder stiffened, his eyes widening in shock. He opened his mouth to reply, but no words came. Maria stared at Khalil as if seeing him in an entirely new light, her skepticism giving way to awe. 

The principal, however, wasted no time. His gaze flickered to the shield, then to the tamers who still hesitated, unsure whether to act. Straightening, he raised his hand and spoke in a voice that carried authority and finality. 

"Stop what you are doing. The Guardian of Light has confirmed that the bond isn't as we thought it was. The girl is innocent, so her bond. She passes the exam and is accepted to the academy."

Khalil watched worriedly not knowing how others would react. And his worries grew seeing some tamers who wanted to argue, but thankfully the principal took care of the situation perfectly. He even descended below personally.

The tension in the bonding hall was palpable as the principal descended from the observation deck, his face a mix of regret and determination. The tamers who had hesitated to attack earlier now stood frozen, glancing at each other uneasily. The hall, once filled with the anticipation of the ceremony, was now heavy with the aftermath of their actions. 

Sira remained within the radiant shield Khalil had conjured, her serpent bond coiled protectively around her. Its deep wounds were glaring, and its labored breathing tugged painfully at Sira's heart. She stroked its scaled body gently, her eyes burning with hostility as they darted toward the tamers who had nearly struck them down. 

The principal approached with measured steps, his presence commanding silence as he reached the edge of the light shield. His usually authoritative demeanor was softened by genuine remorse as he addressed Sira directly. 

"Miss Sira," he began, bowing his head slightly, "I owe you a profound apology on behalf of the academy and others. In our haste and caution, we made a grave error in judgment. We mistook your bond for a corrupt creature and acted prematurely." 

Sira's jaw tightened, and she stared at the principal, her expression unwavering. Despite the principal's words, the hostility in her eyes didn't fade. As if an apology could wash away what they did, they were about to be killed.

The principal sighed, his tone heavy with regret. "Thankfully, the Guardian of Light intervened in time, identifying your bonded beast as a rare Darkness-element creature. You and your bond are innocent, and you've more than passed the exam. For the harm caused, I will personally ensure you're compensated appropriately. Additionally, I will let your bond heal immed—!" 

The principal abruptly stopped mid-sentence, his gaze fixed on the serpent. Confusion flickered across his face as he noticed something strange. 

The shield surrounding Sira and her bond pulsed with a gentle golden glow, and the serpent's wounds were mending before their eyes. Gashes along its sleek body closed seamlessly, and its once-labored breathing grew steady and strong. 

Gasps echoed through the bonding hall as the tamers and assistants noticed the phenomenon. Whispers rippled through the crowd, their disbelief evident. 

Sira's breath hitched as she felt her bond's energy stabilizing, its pain fading. Her serpent uncoiled slightly, its eyes blinking open as it stared at her with an almost grateful expression. 

"How…?" Sira whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. She looked at the light shield, her hand brushing against its fading radiance. "Light… is healing her?" 

Others also shared the same question.

Wasn't light supposed to be the opposite of light? And wasn't light strong against corrupt and dark beasts? Wasn't light the bane of those beasts?

So how?