Well, you can’t deny that Gregory has much better control over his magic than he did in the beginning – but while his use of magic might be more competent on the whole, that does not mean that it’s always judicious.
The elation of being able to employ powerful spells sometimes seems to cloud his mind to some of the more practical considerations that should be involved. Or, as Dr. Malcolm would put it:“You were so preoccupied with whether you could, you didn’t stop to think if you should.” But it’s kind of hard to blame him, since chances are that just about anybody would act like that in his circumstances.
That doesn’t excuse the puns, though. Nothing excuses the puns. >_>
The Professorian hasn’t given up on educating Gregory on the matter, naturally. There’s still enough of the born educator in him, and his added barbarism comes with the privilege that he’s got an excuse to use violence. God knows he’s often missed having such a privilege in the old days, so his enthusiasm in employing it now can actually be readily compared with Gregory’s enthusiasm in employing his magic.
Everyone else’s enthusiasm is slightly dampened, or rather singed at the edges.
The tree rats, of course, are gone. Whatever you might be able to say against Gregory’s choice of method, you can’t dispute the effectiveness.
More on Monday.