I gritted my teeth, taking a deep breath to keep from plucking his feathers out. "Please, Clover... how do I use the gem's ability?"
"Much better," Clover cawed proudly. "I am not deaf, girl. Now, sit down. Cross your legs."
I looked down at my clean dress, hesitated for a second, then sat cross-legged directly onto the damp, mossy ground of the garden.
"Close your eyes," Clover ordered, his tone shifting into something strict and authoritative, fluttering his wings as he landed on a nearby root. "Clear your mind of your pathetic worries, your fear, and your silly emotional attachments. You are nothing but an empty vessel right now. Focus all your internal sight directly on your chest, where the Green Gem resides."
I closed my eyes, taking a deep, slow breath of the damp garden air. I tried to push away the thoughts of Draven, the red system screens, and the impending elections, focusing entirely on the center of my chest.
