Some might not read author notes, so I'm repeating this here: The 2nd half of the previous chapter was heavily edited yesterday. I wasn't satisfied with Miles's attitude and changed stuff up. If you read the original draft, I recommend you reread Chapter 16.***Miles opened his mouth to speak, but Ben’s crowing interrupted him.“I knew it! I knew you were something strange. You’re one of those undead come to destroy all the good work we’re doing. Wait until I report this to my masters. You’re just as bad as a mage! All of you think you’re above us, but look at you now! Weak, just like I bet you thought of me.”Miles smiled in response, though the smile had no amusement contained. The cage stripped away the illusion masking his skeletal features. This key truly was something to admire.He could feel the cage trying to suppress his thoughts. It acted like a trainer, trying to crush him when he thought of magic in any form. This was a method unknown to him, and it wasn’t often that he didn’t know how to replicate magic.Miles stared greedily at the key sticking out of Ben’s arm. He wanted it.“Don’t just stand there! Start packing!” Ben yelled at the woman. He turned and glared at Miles with bloodshot eyes. “It was that damned Adam, wasn’t it? I should have thrown that one away when he tried to talk back to me! Now the blame will come to me. Me! Like I wasn’t the reason we gained a foothold in Lakeward!”“Shut up, Ben!” the woman cut in. “Or do you have a way to kill him before we leave?”Ben growled, but stopped running his mouth, hesitant to give away free information.Miles felt disappointed and attempted to encourage him. “I’m sure you’ll find a way to kill me. I believe in you.”“Don’t tempt me! If it weren’t for the lack of time, I’d come in there and slice you up,” Ben blustered as he shoved artifacts into bags, but his useless arm didn’t help his speed. Frustration (...)