< Cognita
Quotes[edit | edit source]
Wistram Days[edit | edit source]
- (To Ceria) “Greetings, young mage. I trust you are one of the new students?”
- (To the new students) “Firstly. You must never venture into the high parts of the castle or the lower reaches unaccompanied and even then, only with great cause. Dangers lurk within Wistram, ancient magics and spells and creatures called here and never destroyed. Too, the very enchantments keeping this citadel intact sometimes fray. Only a mage with true power is allowed into such places. Second. Some of the Golems here were made as I am, but most lack any form of intelligence and simply obey orders. Do not attack or obstruct them in any way or they may react unpredictably. Third. Anyone attempting to cast area-wide magics must first consult with I or an experienced mage. Unpredictable results may occur if a spell affects a wide area of the academy at once. Is that understood?”
- (To Calvaron) “Calvaron. Will you lead these students to the dining hall now or later?”
- (To the students) “Ah. This is the work of Illphres. Stand back please, and employ any protective spells you know. I will remove this barrier.”
- (To Pisces) “She cannot accept what you do. And you cannot accept that she does not consider you a friend. Perhaps the question is then whether you value friendship or magic more.”
- To Ceria:
- “I see in his magic something akin to what mages do when they shape Golems, but different. I care not if they are dead bodies or clay and stone that is shaped. I believe his ideas are intriguing. I wonder if he will be able to do as he claims. Even for Zelkyr, the only creation he was able to imbue with true intelligence was a Truestone Golem, my kind. What base material would be equivalent among the dead?”
- "But I see in you something worthy. So I ask that you accept what comes next, and know that it is a sign of respect, not mockery.”
- To Wistram Mages:
- “Today Wistram will see two students depart from its shores. These two mages leave, one exiled, the other in contempt. They leave as failures by the reckoning of the Council. But the Golems of Wistram disagree
- “I am Cognita, greatest of Archmage Zelkyr’s creations. Though I am no mage, I hold his authority, which supersedes all others so long as I remain. Thus, it is within my power to graduate you two on this day.
Volume 6[edit | edit source]
- To Naili:
- “That is your reasoning. Which you are entitled too, Archmage. However, Mage Pisces and Mage Ceria are graduates of Wistram. So I have named them. I would request that detail be changed.”
- “If I truly wished to change Wistram as I pleased, I would listen to Archmage Amerys’ requests to free her. I respect the will of the academy. Archmage, please do not test my respect.”
Volume 7[edit | edit source]
- (To Beatrice) “She is an Archmage of Wistram until the gathered [Mages] strip her of that honor. Your opinion does not change the truth.”
Volume 8[edit | edit source]
- To Eldavin:
- “Archmagus Zelkyr set me to this task, Eldavin of Izril. He will decide when I am to be relieved. Only his words, no one else’s.”
- “You will not slander my master! He was an [Archmage]! Greatest of his kind! Without flaw or failure!”
- “My master’s will remains his will. That is all I will say, Magus. Nothing will sway me.”
- “You do not know the answer. I did not give it to you.”
- To Eldavin:
- “How dare you? You—I have never met you before. Yet you come to Wistram, you presume to walk into my life, insult all I hold dear, and force me to change?”
- “I see. But this is what gives me life. This is all I am. The years I have been faithful, my love, my purpose, my loss—my sister was broken on Rhir. All of me is in this. Do not take it from me. Please, Grand Magus.”
- (Exclaiming) “Zelkyr! ZELKYR. Why did you leave me behind? Why did you take her? Why—why didn’t you love me?”
- (To everyone) “I am Cognita. Cognita of Wistram, as some named me. I am the same Golem who stood by Archmage Zelkyr’s side. That I do not prove my strength does not diminish who I am. It is foolish to assume otherwise. But that is your failing. Perhaps you have forgotten. Then: this is a reminder.”
- (To Dawil) “Interesting. I did not know that. Thank you for telling me.”
- (To Eldavin) “He was more than a fool, Grand Magus. He was not always a hero. He was neither extreme. You lie well, but you do lie. I have finished here. There is little truth for me. I came here to judge. Isn’t that what you desired?”
- To Aaron, Elena and George:
- “Your world does not interest me as much as the [Mages], Aaron Vanwell. This, though. Your Earth is a world without magic. You people of numbers and metal…you still made something and named it to be like me.”
- “You want to create something more perfect than you. And you want it to help you. You intend to create something that bears affection for you? How funny. Why would it help? Perfection cares nothing for you.”
- “One day, it will disappear. Some day, if you make people greater than me, they will behold you fully, their creators. They will judge you and see exactly what you are worth.”
- “The thing you hate and fear, that you will try to prevent and, ultimately, fail at is this: when we judge you, we will do it fairly. Or we will do it as you would to others. Make no mistake. If we live, someday, we will.”
- (To Barelle) “I would speak it. If you could survive it. There are words that Golems know that even [Bards] lack. Someday, Barelle. When you are a truly great [Bard], seek me out. I hope you will accomplish it before the end of your life.”
- (To Minizi) “Repair yourselves. Do not let yourselves be destroyed.”
- (To Rasea) “I am Cognita. Leave or die, Rasea Zecrew. You and your crew are not welcome here.”
- (To Troy) “I will remember this, Troy Atlas. You have been marked.”