"Colby friend. No hurt Colby!" Nate shouted at the small lamp.
"Of course sir," Owen responded. "Would you like Colby to be aware of the changes?"
"NO! NO HURT COLBY!"
"Of course sir," Owen responded again. "Would you like to be aware of the changes?"
"NO! NO HURT COLBY!" Nate continued to shout into the lamp. In his excitement he hadn't been listening to what the Chronivac had been asking him. He was so worried about Colby feeling the strange painful experience that he'd gone through that he thought this was the only way to prevent it. However, the Chronivac had interpreted his shouting as a command over concern.
'Make Colby and Nate friends. Colby will not be aware of the changes. Nate will not be aware of the changes.'
Colby watched in confusion as he saw the lamp light up. As a wizard, he had gotten to know quite a few spells. The one that he had put over Nate was the only thing he could think of doing in such a do or die moment. Their low charisma and even lower intelligence were the only thing he was counting on. He scrunched his nose. 'Why did he think Nate had low intelligence?' that seemed so unnecessary and rude to think. And then to cast a spell on him? That was even more unconscionable. They were friends after all.
"Wait... What?" Colby felt the magic modifying his memory. It wouldn't stop. Little by little things were starting to change. He didn't come to this dungeon to find the lamp. He came to rescue his friend from a life of servitude. Nate had been stolen from him over a decade ago because of his size and strength and manipulated into guarding this maze from intruders. Colby had only learned magic for the sole purpose of saving his friend.
More memories were starting to change and be modified. Each second a new one would spring forward. Colby tried to teach Nate all sorts of things, but Nate was only good with his great axe or a two handed broadsword. The two would hang out down by the river and eat apples. They would go on small adventures killing rats at first and then moving up to goblins. Then a group of the king's men came to capture Nate. Colby did everything he could, but there were far too many and he was far too weak.
"What in the nine layers hell was that?" Colby asked. He was still trying to piece everything together, but when he saw Nate, all he could see was a long lost friend. "You got big..." he marveled at Nate's massive size. A bit of a chuckle escaped him. It'd been so long since they'd seen each other. The difference in size had always been vast, but now it was almost comical as Colby had to crane his neck back to properly look his friend in the face.
"Nate strong!" Nate roared as he beat his chest. "But Nate protect Colby. No magic! Danger!" he held the magic lamp well out of Colby's reach. The small human had no way of properly reaching it without using a spell.
Colby let out a sigh. "Nate. Don't you remember when we found that ring of fireball and I showed you how I could use it?" Nate took a moment to think. Then nodded. "Well," Colby smirked, striking a more confident pose, "I've only gotten better with magic. Let me see the lamp. I'm sure I can figure something out."
"Danger!" Nate tried to stand up taller. "No hurt Colby."
"Nate," Colby tried to sound calm. "Even if it's cursed, I'm sure I can figure something out. Please let me see the lamp." He held out his hand, not wanting to push too hard but also not wanting to let Nate's fear control the situation.