CHAPTER 10

Conway wasn't exaggerating. It was a little more than either of them expected from mermaids. Still Kaito couldn't help but notice Ruto was laughing as she was battling. She was able to take out several mermaids without getting a scratch on her.

He was trying not to get distracted by it. The songs were louder than he expected. At one point he found himself getting snapped out of one. "Sorry when we were training I should have mentioned that mermen will have the same effect as mermaids." Ruto said as she knocked the merman out, "There are so many of them it may be best just to work the spell all day if you can, not just as you hear their songs."

The term mermaids was used similar to the way the term mankind was to humans. Mankind generally meant both men and women for humans, but womankind did not.

Mermaids used generally meant both mermen and mermaids. If one mermaid was in a group of mermen, the group would still be called a group of mermaids. One would only use the term mermen if they were all male.

"It's not that, I just don't find him the least attractive, I didn't think his song would have that effect." Kaito said defensively.

Ruto sighed, "It doesn't always work like that, besides you remember what Prince Conway said. These aren't everyday mermaids."

"You seem to be doing well, like you enjoy the kill." He said, sounding awkward.

Ruto smiled, "Sorry if my behavior out here comes off as unladylike, but I am having fun. Remember, these monsters don't just hunt and kill river zora, they go after our people as well. The joy I get from battles like this, protecting them, it's unmatched. I would do it again, over and over if it means keeping everyone safe." She then turned and swam back out in the fight.

Kaito smiled. He never knew exactly how strong her magic was. Seeing her in action was amazing. It was like with each attack she was dancing a bit. When it came to martial arts, she really put a sense of art into it.

He couldn't watch her for long, he suddenly had to do the ear bubble spell as he started to hear the siren song faintly behind him.

Spear in hand, he turned and found himself stabbing a young mermaid.

The strategy being used was sectional. They attacked and gained back some of the river zora territory. Paused, with guards around the new border. Rested. Then advanced. Well , they theoretically rested. Periods of rest were often met with the mermaid's own advancement. The mermaids had yet to win any battles since Seatons military showed up, but there were definitely some casualties as a result of this war.

When not actively battling, Ruto spent a lot of time healing soldiers with her bubble magic. Some soldiers she couldn't heal, water magic can only heal physical wounds. Wounds caused by dark magic needed light magic to heal, but she did as much as she could. Thankfully Seaton had invested in a number of magic items, including ones that allowed for light magic to be learned by his citizens.

Kaito by contrast was helping with sharpening and cleaning spears as well as continuing to practice magic. He hated all of this. He longed for the war to be over. Even with Ruto fighting near by he never got to spend time with her anymore beyond that. They weren't getting much sleep as mermaids were coming in at all hours, day or night.

Border patrol worked in shifts and thankfully could sound a wake up horn that prevented the mermaids from using their songs in anyone's sleep.

When doing their own advancements they sometimes were able to catch bits of conversation.

Mermaids often referred to zoras as water monkeys. Both of them held a similar evolutionary ancestry, one often referred to as the aquatic ape theory when presented by humans. Somewhere there was an evolutionary split. Despite the two having similar evolutionary ancestry, somehow the two species ended up hating each other the same way lions and hyenas do. Besides fights over territory, the two apex predators ate many of the same foods, as well as each other.

When Kaito was leading a sneak attack, he overheard a conversation between three mermen.

Merman1: "The green water monkeys have teamed up with the blue and red ones sir. There is also a blue one who looks similar to the other blue ones, but she isn't a dark blue, she's like a whole different breed of water monkey all together."

Merman2: "I don't know where they got her from but her magic is really strong, if she continues to fight, the water monkeys will overpower us."

Merman 3: "I'll let the chief know, we must inform the King."

The third merman swam away above where they were listening, unaware that Kaito had infiltrated this base camp.

Merman1: "Do you think we're going to be able to turn things around again? That one water monkey is really tough."

Merman2: " Oh yeah, she's just a minor setback, besides I'm sure the chief can take her. When she does, the water monkey will be presented to the king as a special meal."

Kaito felt rage. He didn't appreciate his wife being talked about like a literal piece of meat. Without warning, the two mermen were stabbed at the end of his spear, like mermen shish kabobs.

It blew his cover, and others saw him off in the distance, but seeing red Kaito managed to take out a large number of mermaids on his own.

Suddenly without warning Kaito had a huge hit to the head. As he was losing consciousness he heard Ruto screaming his name in the distance. He also heard one of the mermaids say, "Lock him up, he's big. Let's save him for a fresh kill for the royals."

At that point he had blacked out. Unfortunately the distraction of seeing Kaito be knocked out gave an opportunity for a dark magic soldier to cast a magic blocking spell on Ruto. Her wrists were now in chains made of dark clouds and a dark aura appeared around her.

The chief mermaid called out, "Good work soldier. When you bring her in, don't forget we need her alive for the king to absorb her power. Weaken her, but don't kill her, not yet."