"Don't be ridiculous, magic doesn't exist." Artie waved off that explanation. Since he hadn't given a scientific explanation, that meant artifact in Artie's mind.

"Fine. If you don't want to tell me about the artifact you used, just know that it could be dangerous to you. When it turns your brain to mush, I'll pick it up."

His first concern was the artifact always. The man deserved what he got for willfully handling an artifact he didn't understand after a warning.