Sprite anyone?

I had a request! Someone asked me about the dragon Sprites and how they work. I have also been asked about who can be mages and whether there were any restrictions on being a mage. I have also been asked who controls the mages? Is there a fifth Order or Super-Mages?

Thing is, I don't know the answers to all of these questions yet but I'll do my best to answer them here anyway.

First of all: Sprites! Sprites are a conduit between the Dragons and the Magic users. I explained previously that the Dragons are the source of power for the human mages and that once the mage acquires master rank, they are able to have a Sprite as a type of familiar. They are about the same size as a cat and are very cat-like in nature. They sleep a lot and don't appear to do much else except maybe chase bugs and eat! That is, until their masters call on them to boost their power. Not for lighting fires and other every day uses but for bigger things. I don't want to give too much away, so that's all your getting for now!

Who can become a mage: Anyone! Who does: almost no-one. There are downsides to being a mage - you work long long hours, years of study are required and there are a series of rigorous tests that they have to go through before they are even a bottom rank mage. The penalty for failing these quests is death! There can only be seven master mages in each school at any one time, as well as the Order head, this is because there are only eight sprites in each colour! There are other physical side effects of being a mage but again, I don't want to give everything away. Mages only get to pick one 'school' of expertise as well. They can't be a Necromantic Mind-Caster, or a Healing Elementalist either. This is very well policed...

Who controls the Mages? Same entity that controls the Order of White Roses.

Is there a Faction of Super-Mages...? Wait and see for that one.