The force of the wind spell wouldn't have hit Alex, anyway -- Soren's casting is carefully controlled. He notes the sudden disappearance and reappearance, but right now, he's dealing with Punchy.

"If you're testing the waters to see how far you can push me, the answer is this: not far." Soren's encountered bullies and browbeaters before. And he's never forgotten what he learned about dealing with them: the only thing they understand is force.

"I'll thank you to keep that ridiculous hand puppet out of my face."