Golden Melody

Chapter 99

Chapter 99 – Historical Roleplay: The Silver Mermaid Legend

Wayne Academy Silver Island Field Trip – Day 4, Evening

Jayson blinked hard, the last grains of sand scraping against his vision.

He rubbed his eyes again, once, twice, until everything finally came into focus.

But Miexha wasn't there.

"No... no, no, no."

He shot to his feet, scanning the beach as a man dropped into enemy territory.

"Miexha?" he called, voice sharp. "Miexha!"

Nothing.

Just music. Laughter. Bodies moving under firelight like nothing was wrong.

His pulse spiked. He moved fast, grabbing the nearest student.

"Did you see her? She was just here."

"Uh—maybe she went toward the rocks?"

Another shrugged. "She's small, bro. Hard to spot. The beach is safe anyway."

Safe?

Jayson went still.

"I only looked away for a second..."

His hand flew to his ear, activating his comm.

"Sphere. Report. Where is she?"

Static.

Then—a ping.

An incoming transmission.

Jayson frowned, irritation flashing as he accepted it.

A holographic map flickered across his lens.

A red dot.

Moving.

His breath hitched.

"...No way."

The signal pulsed—far beyond the shoreline. Out in the water.

"Shit."

He turned instantly and grabbed Asha mid-spin.

"HEY—what the hell?!"

He didn't answer.

Then he yanked Zatariel straight out of his rant, cutting off Foot Trauma: Part Three mid-sentence.

"Emergency. Miexha's gone."

Asha froze.

Zatariel's book slipped from his hand.

"...What?"

"WHO WHAT?!" Asha snapped, panic exploding. "How do you lose her when you're literally right there?! What are her bodyguards even doing?!"

Zatariel shoved Jayson hard. "You were supposed to be watching her!"

"I was!" Jayson shot back. "I just turned around—"

Zatariel stepped forward, fists clenched.

Jayson didn't move.

"Then hit me," he growled. "If it helps, do it."

Asha shoved herself between them.

"Stop it! Both of you!"

She turned to Jayson. "Did you contact Sphere?"

Right on cue— A low hum cut through the noise.

A drone descended above them, blue optics glowing.

"A drone?" Asha breathed.