I shrug at Pixie laughing slightly before sprinting over, "where to sir?" I asked glancing at him my hazel eyes shifting a blueish grey color.

The elder points to where there is a large patch of grey-black grass. "Right here." He hands you and Pixie small scythes. "These should help ya. Just cut away to the base of the stalk, then throw it in the fire when you have a big pile."

He wanders back to his work. "And lemme know if you think you know what caused the plants to die, please. If this is a prank of you youngsters, you're in for it!"

I chuckled and began to work chopping at the base, I hummed as I glanced at Pixie "do you know why it keeps diein..." I asked I knew she wouldn't know but I asked anyway.

She glances at you. "Sammy, you honestly think I would know? If I were gonna base it on something, though, this kinda matches stories the elder tells about the seventh Devil draining life."

Tossing some grass into a bundle behind her, she sighs. "But that's doubtful."

"The Elders may be right... I know I just told you that it was a rumor but it makes sense... But they don't sound panicked at all..." I said in defeat everything in me about to give up, "am I the only shifter... or are we all shifters..." I asked glancing at Pixie in wonder because I didn't actually know if there were any.

She shrugs. "Well, I'm not. But I hear that a world called Iro is chock-full of them."

Looking down, there is an exceptionally black grass-root in the earth. Pixie points at it. "Do you think that's where this spread from?"

I glance over stepping forward "it could be let me pull it out" I said reaching to grab it.

The stalk grabs you. Yep.

The black runs up the shaft and onto your hand. It's not pulling or pushing, but it feels like it's just drawing off your energy, making you drowsy.

Pixie notices this, and tries to take it off. Doesn't work.

I begin to panic and try to pull my arm away "get an elder" I slurred drowsily

Pixie nods, looking sick. Running off, she quickly returns with the elder who had asked you to chop the grass.

"Oh my."

Pulling out a pair of thick-looking shears, he quickly chops through the stem. The blackness retracts from your hand, returning your energy.