Aric looked with a frown at the text floating in front of him. He recognized some of the exercises; he had already done them before, but his skills had never improved. Frustration bubbled up inside him. He sighed."I already know these drills. I've done them countless times but my skills never improve," he said to the amulet, his voice tinged with irritation. "I need more magical power, not just training."The amulet's voice remained calm and steady. ["The only thing that matters is your effort. True improvement comes from consistent practice and dedication, not only magical enhancements."]Aric's frustration boiled over. "That's easy for you to say. You're just a voice in an amulet. You don't understand how hard it is to keep trying and failing over and over again."["I understand your frustration, but I am here to guide you and help you unlock your potential. Effort and perseverance are the keys to achieving your dreams, not relying on magic to do the work for you. I will provide enhancement to your body but its not a magic power that can increase your skill in just a day."]Aric glared at the glowing stone. "You don't get it. I need results, quickly. I've been putting in effort for years, and look where it's gotten me. Nowhere."There was a moment of silence before the amulet responded. ["I understand your impatience, but true mastery takes time. I can guide you and provide the tools you need, but the work must come from you. There are no shortcuts to greatness."]Aric's anger slowly began to ebb, replaced by a reluctant understanding. He knew, deep down, that the amulet was right. There were no easy paths to achieving his dreams. With a heavy sigh, he nodded."Fine," he muttered. "I'll do it your way. Sorry, I just... Frustrated after all of this."["It's okay. I understand. Now, let's begin with the first exercise: Pitch Variation Drills."]The amulet's instructions appeared before him, detailing the steps he needed to follow.["Pitch Variation Drill: Start by selecting a phrase and repeat it in varying pitches, from the lowest to the highest you can manage. Maintain clarity and control with each variation."]Aric chose a simple phrase: "The moonlight shines on Vinez." He started with a low pitch."The moonlight shines on Vinez," he said again, feeling the vibration in his chest.Next, he raised his pitch slightly, repeating the phrase with more resonance."The moonlight shines on Vinez."He continued to raise his pitch, each time focusing on keeping his voice clear and steady. As he reached higher pitches, his voice wavered slightly, but he keep going, determined to maintain control."The moonlight shines on Vinez!"The exercise pushed him to his limits, his voice straining as he reached the highest pitches. Sweat formed on his brow, but he didn't stop. He repeated the phrase over and over, adjusting his pitch, pushing through the discomfort.After several minutes, he paused, panting slightly. His throat felt raw, but he could sense a subtle improvement. His voice was becoming more flexible, more responsive. He never felt if before even though he had done this exercise.["Good, Aric. Now, take a short break and drink water. Then, we will continue with breath control techniques."]Aric nodded, grateful for the brief respite. He drank some water, feeling the cool liquid soothe his throat. Despite the difficulty, a spark of hope flickered within him. Perhaps the amulet's guidance would truly help him improve.He resumed the exercise. Each time, he focused on refining his pitch, aiming for clarity and control.When the practic end his voice was tired but he could already hear a difference."Hey, uhh... I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I didn't mean to get mad at you. It's pretty ungrateful, isn't it? Especially since you want to help me," Aric said to the amulet in an apologetic tone in his mind.["It's not a problem. I understand."]Aric felt curious when he heard that. He asked, "Actually... what are you? You said you understand me, so I think you're not just some spell created by a Magi."The amulet didn't answer his question right away, making Aric wonder if he had asked something forbidden.After a few seconds of silence, the amulet finally spoke again. ["About myself, it's not important. You can think of me as a spell within the amulet, and that's fine."]Aric, sensing a strange tone in the feminine voice, decided not to ask further."So, what should I call you? I can't keep calling you 'Amulet,' can I?"["You can call me Lumina."]Aric nodded. "Alright, Lumina. What should I do next?"["Now you should rest and drink some water. After that, we'll continue the drill."]Aric smiled. "Okay."Aric made his way to the kitchen. He filled a glass with water from the tap and took a long drink, feeling the cool liquid soothe his dry throat. Setting the empty glass aside, he turned his attention to preparing a meal.Living alone had taught Aric to cook for himself, a necessity to cut costs. He took out a few basic ingredients: rice, vegetables, and some leftover meat. He washed the rice and set it to cook in a pot.Next, he chopped up an assortment of vegetables—carrots, bell peppers, and onions.He heated a pan with a bit of oil, waiting for it to sizzle before adding the vegetables. The kitchen filled with the fragrant aroma of sautéing onions and garlic, soon joined by the other vegetables.Aric added the leftover meat to the pan, stirring everything together. He seasoned the mixture with salt, pepper, and a few herbs he had on hand. The sizzling and popping sounds were comforting.Once the rice was done, he combined it with the cooked vegetables and meat, stirring everything together until it was well-mixed. He took a moment to savor the smell of the freshly cooked meal before serving himself a generous portion.Sitting at his small dining table, Aric dug into his meal. The familiar flavors were comforting, grounding him after the strange events of the day.Aric smiled, he almost can see the image of the dream came true in his head.---