The Colors of the Circle

The most famous use of color in the country of Chrenada is of course the ranking system for mages in The Great Circle . The origin of this ranking by colors, from darkest (Black Mage) to brightest (White Mage), has been largely lost in history but earliest writings seem to indicate a metaphorical association with intensity of energy, ranging through the spectrum of light. From the beginning it has been the Circle's practice to progress through the colors. A text from four centuries ago references the idea that the Great White Mage, elected by the others, is intended to represent not only the most intense brightness of visible energy but also the combined contributions of the mages of the color spectrum.
Any attribution of Black being an untrustworthy color is a recent and apparently temporary phenomenon, endemic almost solely to Circle apprentices and young grey mages. This notion arose after Mage Taev Callahan was admitted to the Circle as Black Mage, only a year after the battle at Luenda where Callahan survived a magical injury which should have killed him. Less-disciplined folk around the Circle whispered of tappers (mythical mages who steal energy from others) or other outlandish reasons for his survival, all of which were clearly dismissed by the Circle itself, as evidenced by his admission at a notably young age; though it is true that the Circle was anxious to replenish its ranks after such a brutal campaign, the mages could not afford to bring into their ranks anyone who was neither trustworthy nor helpful in the ongoing conflict. Careful scholars will note that while Mage Callahan is known for a gruff personality and cultivates few friendships, he has always been regarded as a full and equal member of the Circle.
There is no popular record of distrust of the Black Mage before Mage Callahan's entrance or since Mage Ariana Hazelrig took that rank.