Chapter: 703

“Now, I suppose I should craft you some armour before you level up further…” Jay glanced at Handy before looking at his other skeletons, “Well, craft some for all of you.”

At the moment, Handy and Dark were the only skeletons without any armour, while Heavy was the only one with a chest plate; Jay didn’t think he was quite skilled enough at scrimshaw to make other armour parts just yet.

As for the other skeletons, they each had the same armour as Jay: Vambraces, greaves and a helmet, each of the skeletons recieving five extra health for each spectral armour part – excluding the helmet, which for some reason was not considered a spectral armour piece.

“At least I’ll have something productive to do tonight” he nodded before glancing at his skeletons.

“Now… who’s free for some chores.”

Sweeper was still crafting something, so Jay decided to just keep it here to guard him along with Heavy.

Handy and Lamp, though, were sent out to hunt.

Jay hoped he wouldn’t regret the decision to send the skeletons with the most specialised weapons out to hunt – the bastard sword, the gut knife and the shepherds crook.

A part of him thought they would either come back empty handed or with shredded and mutilated bits of unidentifiable meat from many different animals.

All he wanted really was one carcass to butcher, but for some reason he felt like this chore was too hard to ask the unrelenting skeletons.

Thankfully, had just Blue came back from its task; a bundle of wood under its arm.

Some was unfortunately still green, filled with water. Jay tossed those pieces as they wouldn’t catch fire, but thankfully the skeleton came back with some dried out pieces which should burn quite easily.

Still, Jay needed more.

“Hmm… Heavy. Come here.”

The thick-armoured skeleton had become much heavier after consuming much more bones than any of the other skeletons, all to feed its growing armour, and each of its steps were as weighty as Jay’s now.

For now though, it wouldn’t be useful for hunting, but having a mind made it useful for this particular duty.

Jay showed it the difference between good firewood and the water-filled green bits of wood which wouldn’t catch alight. The skeleton couldn’t tell the difference at first, but Jay showed it how the drier bits of firewood would snap when bent, while the others would bend as he taught it to do a most humble job.

Still, Heavy was happy with carrying out whatever tasks its master would use it for, so it quickly went off into the forest and began gathering.

In the meantime, Blue would be there to guard Jay, along with Sweeper who was still crafting something.

Red was gathering water, his shelter was made from bones, firewood was ready with more on the way, and skeletons were out hunting. Jay felt pretty set for the night.

There was nothing else that Jay needed to do while the last slips of sunlight were disappearing, but he was by no means idle.

“Blue, I think it’s time I gave you a mind.” Jay decided.

Blue was his most favoured skeleton, formerly called ‘Don’ along with Red – together they were the don don duo. He smiled warmly remembering those seemingly simpler times.

Still he preferred the present – even though his secret was out and he was being hunted down, he had many more skeletons and skills.

Plus, he was even enjoying it, despite all the dangers and pain he had waded through.