The Blunt Truth No One Had Ever Said Before

When the three of them returned to the Mage Corps’ reception room after the magic battle, Mary Harvey, the Star-Gazing Witch, greeted them with a beaming smile.

“Good work, all three of you. Now, sit down, sit down.”

Monica and Louis promptly took their seats at Mary’s urging, but Cyrus did not. Instead, he stood before the old man buried in cushions—his master, Graham Sanders, the Thunderclap Mage—and bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry, Master. I lost disgracefully in a fight under your name.”

He was serious. Too serious. Everyone in the room stared at Cyrus in astonishment.

The Thunderclap Mage, still buried in cushions, moved his mouth beneath his mustache with a muffled mumble, then spoke in a low voice.

“Your follow-up attack after the opening lightning strike was slow. You should have launched a surprise attack to divide your enemies before they could coordinate.”

“Yes, sir.”

“During the aerial battle, the Barrier Mage kept maneuvering you into positions that favored him. You’re still inexperienced if you don’t even realize when your opponent is controlling your movements.”

“Yes, sir.”...