I agree that its a good thing he improved his intel and wisdom. I find it strange that he seems to be always gulping his saliva all the time. A hard dry swallow or gulp seems more realistic. imo. =_)
Its an issue every writer faces of finding some expression and just getting used to them. So, just like you have "incandescent fire" in every other chapter of Shadow Slave, you have characters gulping, squinting their eyes and sighing in my novels :D