Alistair
You're sort of adorable when you're all indignant. Just saying.
And I'm glad you like some mages. My ex-boyfriend is a White Mage - a healer - and his brother and mother are Black Mages. They focus more on combat and elemental spells, but honestly, Soren's a sweetheart and his mother Lulu is like an aunt to me. You'd be hardpressed to find nicer people. Even if my ex is about as smart as rats are clean.
... poisoning people is wrong, mage or no. And I have a photographic memory - er. Do you have photographs where you're from? I can see things once and memorize them. It helps with memorizing incantations.