"You know what we mean, Maddie, I guess you just don't want to talk about it," Matt shrugged.
"Yes, and that's because we are not talking about me right now. We are talking about the blondie and his own past and stories, so don't try to push this on me," she said.
"Oh, trust me, we won't," Annie said.
Whenever Maddie got more defensive and mean about something it meant she was reluctant to speak, and they were finally back to having a good time and both Annie and Matt did not want to ruin that.
"Moving on, blondie, continue, what other stories can you tell us?" Maddie turned to him.
Ollie looked up he appeared to be thinking. He laughed when he saw Maddie looking at him strangely.
"What's taking you so long blondie? Isn't this just stories about your life?" she asked.
"Yes, they are, but you know that feeling when you are put on the spot and you suddenly go blank when you were just thinking of the thing," he laughed.
"Yep, I know that feeling all too well," Matt nodded.
"That's the worst," Annie laughed.
"I think that's just an excuse, you remember, you just don't want to tell us," Maddie scoffed.
"I am not going to be surprised that you think that of me, instead, I am going to focus on the fact that you will be unable to admit that that has never happened to you," Ollie said.
"Of course it hasn't blondie, whenever that starts to happen, I simply use a memory retrieval spell," Maddie scoffed.
"Are you being serious about that?" Ollie asked.
"Of course I am.".
"How often do you do that?" Ollie asked.
"What sort of questions are these, blondie? Well, if you must know, I use that spell whenever the need arises," Maddie replied.
"What's the matter?" Annie asked, she was quick to notice the change in Ollie's expression, it was not a good change, far from it, it seemed to be one of worry.
"I don't want to say anything, it might upset you, Maddie," Ollie said.
"And why would it upset me?" she asked. "If you want to say something, blondie, just say it, you have never cared about something you say upsetting me before.".
"That is definitely not true," Ollie frowned.
"Dude, you know something, and you want to say it, just say it," Matt said.
Ollie sighed, "Fine. I read somewhere that the sue of continuous memory retrieval spells can reduce the brain to a redundant state and cause degenerating loss of memory.".
"What?!" Annie and Matt heard Maddie say. They too were surprised by his words, they wanted to make sure that they heard correctly.
"Blondie, you better stop trying to scare me, I am not in the mood for your nonsense," Maddie said.
"I would never try to scare you, Maddie. I am being serious. I read it in one of the old medical books that was published by the High Council. They took a group of twenty witches, and whenever they were asked to look deep into their memories, they used a memory retrieval spell and at the end of the experiment, three out of the twenty witches presented signs of early memory loss and lack of awareness," Ollie frowned.
"You better be joking!" Maddie shouted.
"No, I'm not joking. There is even a name for the illness, it is called obliviscatur ante tempus and was shortened to oblivisci syndrome," he continued.
The more he spoke about this, the more Maddie wanted to punch him while Matt and Annie looked worried.
"Although the sample was small, the findings meant that fifteen percent of the group fell to such an illness, and although it is a small percent that converts to roughly two percent of it happening in the witch population, it is a very serious illness.".
"Why does it happen?" Matt asked.
"The reason the council concluded on was that the continuous use of a retrieval spell on the brain despite the rareness of the illness subjects the mind to laziness. Instead of using the pathways it created, it is forced to bring forth a result without a process," Ollie said.
"So it makes the brain lazy?" Annie asked.
"Exactly, the brain is rendered obsolete and it can create brain fog," Ollie replied.
"That is very terrifying," Matt said.
"You all shut up!" Maddie raised her voice and they turned to her. "I am not going to sit here and watch you all condemn me to brain fog and premature loss of memory," she said.
"I never said that it would happen to you, Maddie. I was just telling you the result of an experiment done some time ago," Ollie said. "Just because that experiment says that doesn't mean it will happen to you, I just wanted to inform you guys, I thought it would be good for you to know, after all, prevention is better than cure.".
"I don't care for your stupid explanations. Tell me, when was that experiment carried out?" Maddie asked.
"About fifty years ago," he replied.
"Ahh, so let's see, you trust an experiment done fifty years ago by a bunch of people that I am sure are not even healthcare professionals because I am certain that things like doctors, nurses and hospitals do not exist in this realm," Maddie said.
Annie laughed lightly, in Maddie's defence, she was right. After all, it was true that there were no hospitals, no doctors.
"Well, like I said earlier, it might not even be that much of a threat, the illness was only given a two percent chance of happening in the entire realm's population. Nevertheless, I am just trying to make you see reason. Instead of using a memory retrieval spell all the time, let your brain be challenged, let it do some work," Ollie said.
"Although, I already know that you use your brain very efficiently," he added.
"Of course I do," Maddie scoffed.
"Yes, I know, so please, just don't use it all the time, I don't want that experiment to be true," he said.
"Please blondie, if I was going to develop some sort of mental issues or brain fog, I would have by now, trust me," she said.
"Are we sure you don't have one already?" Matt muttered but he was heard very loud and clear.
Annie hit him and Maddie shot daggers at him. He chuckled sheepishly. He knew what was coming and still dipped his thumb in it.
"That was mean," Annie said.
"I know, sorry, how come it's acceptable when Maddie does something like that and unacceptable when I do it?" he asked.
"Is that even a question, Maddie is Maddie, and you should be nicer," Annie frowned.
Matt frowned, he did not get how that was fair, he turned to Ollie.
"Can't help you there dude, you walked right into that one," Ollie shrugged.
"Moving on! Blondie, if you have no good experiments to talk about just don't bring them up then, we don't need you ruining the perfectly fine mood," Maddie warned.
"I will only agree because I did indeed bring up something terrifying," Ollie admitted.
"Good," Maddie said as she returned to stuffing her mouth with delicious apples. She needed something to replenish her energy after defending her case so well.
"This place is so peaceful," Annie smiled and she looked around basking in the magnificence of the library.
"I know right? I designed it in such a way that it makes anyone relaxed," Ollie smiled.
"Yes, but somehow Maddie can turn any relaxing day into a stressful one," Matt sighed.
"Oh please, stop acting as if you don't like it," she winked. "I keep things interesting and you know it!".
"Stressful not interesting!" Matt said.
"Please, continue lying to yourself, you know it's interesting," she laughed.
"There certainly cannot be a dull moment when you are around," Ollie laughed.
"You know it, being boring is not my middle name," Maddie flicked her hair.
"I am really going to miss being in this place, and us just hanging out like this, talking about stupid things, arguing for no reason and just laughing," Annie sighed.
"Don't remind me... It's not yet time for you guys to leave yet and I'm already feeling so sad. I don't want you guys to go," Ollie sighed.
"Don't start, what did we say about being sad and depressed? Just leave all those emotions for tomorrow," Maddie frowned.
"I agree, let's not ruin the mood. Instead why don't we continue arguing about stupid things," Matt laughed.
"You're right, so, what do you think if we make a toast?" Annie smiled.
"A toast with what? The apple juice? We have no wine, and besides, for what?" Maddie asked.
"Sure? Why not, what's wrong with apple juice? Wine doesn't have to be the only beverage we can and should toast with. And also, it's not a crime to toast to good times and happiness," Annie smiled.
"I agree with you a hundred percent, Annie," Ollie smiled.