Such a poor excuse?

When the outcome was publicly announced, a wave of commotion swept through the crowd of students, sparking a flurry of discussions. The combat test was even temporarily halted due to the uproar. 

Meanwhile, James was escorted by the Dean to an office on the second floor. Only after he had calmed down a bit did they begin to inquire in detail about what had happened.

James recounted the events intermittently, leaving the instructors in a moment of silence. 

"So, Mike, as a wind element mage, prefers close combat. You were caught off guard and lost the initiative, leading to your defeat," the Dean summarized the battle, looking around at the other instructors for their input.

"Cough, indeed, wind element mages can adopt such a combat style, and there are even Battle Lords known for it," a bespectacled instructor added.