Miles

Biodata

Background / History

Meeting Raven

Miles had lived in Backlund for years and established contacts among writers and publishers, but his own career was faltering. When Lorry met him, he described himself as a failure who might have to leave the profession unless he produced a successful work 10 11.

He was handling the subletting of No. 64 Iris Street for a fellow writer whose plagiarized manuscript had driven him to leave Backlund. The furnished house cost twenty soli per week, with no deposit and a three-month minimum. Lorry, introducing himself as Raven, paid thirteen pounds in advance and signed the contract with Miles 10 11.

Helping Publish *Young Roselle*

After learning that Raven wanted to become a writer, Miles offered his professional contacts while warning him that most authors earned little. He arranged for an underground publisher to consider a sample of Young Roselle, advised Raven to protect the manuscript before publication, and supplied submission instructions and advice about using an anonymous bank account 11 12 16.

When the novel became successful, Miles repeatedly visited to pass on the publisher’s requests for more chapters. He later took Raven to Altair’s literary salon and introduced him to writers and publishing professionals. These introductions helped secure a legitimate trial printing of one thousand copies 31 47 49.

Alyosha’s Plagiarism

Miles and his friend Lab had both been betrayed by Alyosha, who got them drunk, stole their story ideas, and published the work as his own. Their attempts to obtain justice failed for lack of evidence, leaving them ridiculed within the profession. Lab developed a serious mental illness and repeatedly attempted suicide, prompting Miles to watch over him on a psychiatrist’s advice 50 53 55.

After Miles warned Raven about Alyosha, Raven secretly intervened. A burglary investigation led to Alyosha being questioned under supernatural compulsion, exposing the plagiarism. Police summoned Miles to verify the confession 50 53 54 55.

Miles confronted Alyosha at the precinct and briefly softened when his former friend knelt and begged forgiveness. Once an officer explained that Alyosha had no money to provide the promised compensation and was merely trying to escape punishment, Miles refused reconciliation and vowed to pursue the case in court 55.

Alyosha ultimately lost the lawsuit, received a prison sentence, and was ordered to pay compensation. Miles later collected the money and correctly deduced that Raven had helped bring about the confession 70 78.

Ghost Possession

After abandoning detective fiction for horror, Miles took Raven’s remarks about gathering material seriously. He spent several hours alone in a cemetery and subsequently wrote with renewed inspiration. During one late-night writing session, he mistook a windblown advertising leaflet for a ghost 54 73.

Later, a real ghost possessed him for several days. His absence went unnoticed long enough for him to miss court and for police to become unable to locate him. Lorry investigated after his Holy amulet reacted near Miles’s house 70 71 73.

Lorry found Miles in a mirror-filled study, wearing a white dress and heavy makeup. The possessing ghost attacked through his body before emerging to pursue Lorry directly. Lorry destroyed it with Sunfire and the Serrated Dagger, saving Miles 71 72.

Miles retained no clear memory of the possession itself and did not learn the details of the fight. After police investigated the disturbance, he promised to repay the twenty pounds Lorry had spent to settle the matter and swore not to repeat his dangerous attempts at gathering inspiration 73.

Later Assistance

Miles passed his invitation to Falk’s mountain-estate salon to Raven, emphasizing that Fors would attend. Personal matters prevented Miles from going himself; Raven later used Miles’s possession as the basis for a frightening story during the estate’s storytelling competition 78 82 93.

After Young Roselle reached publication, Miles continued helping with Raven’s literary affairs. He agreed to decline an exclusive interview on his behalf and relayed readers’ furious reactions to the novel while admitting his own curiosity about what happened next 104.

Appearance

• Young man: First appears at home in house clothes 10.
• Pronounced dark circles: Repeatedly looks exhausted, yawns, and struggles to keep his eyes open after writing through the night 10 16 31.
• During possession: Wears a pure white dress, uses a silver comb, and has thinly drawn eyebrows, dark eye makeup, thick white face powder, and vivid red lips. This appearance belongs to the possession episode rather than his usual presentation 71.

Personality

Miles is generous with his contacts and genuinely pleased by a friend’s success. He helps Raven enter the publishing profession despite his own financial difficulties, and Lorry recognizes that he values his work and reputation more than accumulating money 11 31 49 50.

His kindness can make him vulnerable to manipulation. He initially hesitates to speak ill of Alyosha and nearly accepts his plea for forgiveness, but becomes resolute once the deception is exposed 50 55.

He is imaginative and easily frightened, yet sufficiently dedicated to his craft to visit a cemetery alone for inspiration. His imagination also fuels repeated matchmaking jokes: he interprets Raven’s surprise at seeing Fors as romantic interest and later uses her attendance to persuade him to accept Falk’s invitation 48 49 54 78.

Abilities & Skills

Writing

• Has experience writing detective novels and later switches to horror after the plagiarism affair 73.
• Draws inspiration for earlier work from Detective Stuart 12.
• Can sustain an intense writing session when inspired, rapidly filling a growing stack of manuscript pages 54.

Publishing Connections

• Maintains contacts with underground publishers willing to consider a newcomer on his recommendation 12 16.
• Introduces Raven to established writers and publishing staff at literary salons 48 49.
• Remains on good terms with senior figures at Raven’s publishing house 104.

Observation and Deduction

• Immediately infers that Lorry has come to rent the neighboring house from the newspaper under his arm 10.
• Deduces Raven’s involvement in Alyosha’s downfall from the timing of the confession 78.
• Recognizes when Raven pretends to know who Falk is 78.

Supernatural Limitations

• His possession does not establish any supernatural ability of his own; the mirror-shard attacks and soul shriek belong to the ghost controlling him 72.
• Believes Lorry’s explanation that a purchased protective charm made the rescue possible, without learning the full details of Lorry’s abilities 73.

Relationships

• Lorry / Raven — Neighbor, friend, and literary newcomer whom Miles mentors. Raven helps restore his reputation and saves him from possession 11 49 55 72 78.
• Lab — Friend and fellow plagiarism victim. Miles monitors his mental state following repeated suicide attempts 55.
• Alyosha — Former friend who steals his work. Miles ultimately rejects reconciliation and pursues legal justice 50 55.
• Fors — Admired fellow writer. Miles praises Stormy Mountain Villa and repeatedly teases Raven about a possible romantic interest in her 48 49 78.
• Detective Stuart — A source of inspiration for Miles’s detective fiction; Miles recommends him as capable, well-connected, and skilled in fighting 12.

Notable Quotes

“Most of us don't earn much.” 11

“I'll find the best lawyer and ask the officers to testify in court. I'll use the law to protect my rights.” 55

Trivia

• Miles writes at night and sleeps during the day. He habitually drinks milk before bed, making the morning milk delivery part of his bedtime routine 12 16 106.
• He repeatedly asks Raven to call him simply “Miles,” rather than “Mr. Miles” 16 31.