EVOLUTION

Veronica was stunned and the only plausible explanation for the chest being here of the places on the island was that Pup or Puff, either of the two must have tried to open it and when not able to open must have kept it here for safekeeping as the place stood out a bit because of the large tree. But the thing that shocked her the most was that the chest that did not even budge to open the day that all three of them tried everything was not slightly ajar and a faint yellow light was peeking through the opened crack. Curiosity took the best of Veronica and without even realizing it, she was standing next to the tree and trying to touch the chest to open it further. As soon as her hands came in proximity to the chest her hands seem to be caught by an invisible force that she just could shrug off. She took a fallback and was now analyzing the chest closely when her eyes fell on the ripe berry-like single fruit on the tree.

It stood out to her as not one tree on the island was lacking fruits as there was no animal or beast to eat it and this was the season for the trees to bear fruits. But this tree not only lacked but also had only a single fruit that was too good and ripe to be bred in this place as the trees here were a little sick because of no sunlight. She could not resist anymore as the berry was too appeasing for her eyes and her stomach was heard growling. Without even realizing her interests had shifted from the chest to the tree. In a trance-like state, she started to move and climb the tree until she plucked the berry and jumped back to the ground. In an instant, she was devouring the scent of the fresh berry and started to gobble the berry in her hand.

Once she was done with the berry she closed her eyes with its sweet taste still lingering on her sweet lips when she started to feel a little dizzy and euphoria took over her senses.

The island became considerably silent and the winds stopped blowing. The tree that once was standing tall was now shrinking in size and turning into pure energy-form glowing golden all over. It was now like a small fist-size ball glowing violently and condensing. The ball was now stable and in the next moment went inside Veronica's chest. As soon as it entered Veronica's body arched backward and her body started to rise slowly until she was high up into the sky where she could practically touch the clouds.

Veronica was now gaining back her senses but she could feel the strange powerful energy inside of her and while still in the sky her body regained her stability. She looked at her hands and her bare feet that were shining with a golden glow while her hair was surprisingly floating and moving in a wave pattern. Her hairs were no more silver as they had changed into rose gold shiny and now were longer than before almost below her back flowing down like a waterfall. Her eye color had changed from grey to emerald green eyes that also had a ring around it that glowed goldenly. Her beauty was on par with the recent changes and slowly she started to descend. Her descent was just that a pink rose petal would come to rest while slowly gliding on the winds with grace. When she stepped on the land again her wind blew as if it was there to welcome her.

Her attention once again was on the chest that now was slowly opening to reveal its content. A bright yellow glow escaped the chest as it had wide opened and when the glow was all dim it revealed a strong and beautiful armour that seemed to be made and carved in the heavens.

A white chest piece with rose gold edges levitated for a moment and then came straight to Veronica's chest fitting perfectly. Two shoulder guards with the same pattern also rose and were not rested on her shoulder. A white cape with rose gold work all over and rose gold edge flew and attached to her shoulder guard. Two pure rose gold gauntlets moved into her hands that for a brief moment changed their shape to a sharp claw-like then reverted back to their initial shape, which meant that the gauntlets had the ability to be changed in the two. A pair of beautiful long boots with rose gold hem adorned her legs. Then a belt came to wrap around her thin waist with a sheath of white and rose gold attached. The last to present itself from the chest was a katana sword. Its blade was rose gold, sharp with double edges and some floral designs were carved onto the blade, whereas the hilt of the sword was purple and had rose gold at the top of the hilt. Many crystals of different colors were embedded into the hilt of the large katana sword.

When Veronica had the armour and sword from the chest out of it a single scroll came out of the chest and opened on its own while staying in the air unmoving. The scroll stated,

"Veronica,

Daughter of Benedict and Martha Saunders.

Hereby, you are chosen as the Life Bringer. You are bestowed upon with blessings from the heavens and above to fulfill your destiny. You now have the power to call upon the dead for the life that you have taken, but heed that the being you kill will never be reborn and will be cast out from the cycle of redemption. You now inherit the elemental powers of air and light and now will serve your true purpose.

Farewell."

The scroll then burst into flames and now neither the chest was there nor the tree. The place stood void of anything and Veronica could not shake off the feeling that she just had gained, the feeling of being powerful. Veronica was still trying to understand everything that just happened but that could wait as the only thing that she was excited about was to check whether she really had gained the elemental powers and the strength of her new weapon. Little did she know that the life of hers was now changing with such force that soon she would realize the great responsibilities that come with great power.