Shifty Visionary. The Shifty Magician

Warlocks Weekly has a top ten list for all the magician apprentices in the Trade. The novices compete to be number one. Shelton "Shifty" Sharpe's formidable intelligence and quick wits have won him the top spot. Though he can't cast the biggest fireball. The number two apprentice wants the top spot and invades Shifty's home. Shifty fends him off but sets out to gain allies to make his competitors afraid to cross him. However, his attempt to join a guild hits a snag when one of the guild members sees him as competition. Shifty has modest magical talents.
Yet the talent he thinks the least of may be what makes him the number one asset of the Trade.