Amber Atlas Stories

[MGE] Chapter 15 – Inventory

I broke the System?

Liora fluttered her wings in disbelief. She didn't know that it was possible to break the System.

Or perhaps it is better to say that our unusual circumstances led to unusual results.

Can you just explain what happened after I grabbed you outside the cave?

Liora wished the gem were visible again, so she could peck it for its insolence. A second later, the gem materialized on the ground in front of her, jus...

[ToM] Chapter 103 – Monster Egg

Why does this guy have an egg of an ice monster?! Why is he trying to sell it to these people as some magical artefact?

"Gather round, gather round. You will not find a magical artifact rarer than this!" The old man bellowed in a loud voice that carried over the market. 

People inadvertently gathered, trying to figure out what exactly was going on.

"What does it do exactly?" One of the women in the front asked.

"That is a wonderful question, ma'am, but it...

[MGE] Chapter 14 – Gnoll

Liora did her best to avoid the humanoid hyena who leapt around with the agility of a cat, snarling viciously. She had no clue how she could even defeat this creature—it was far above her level. There wasn't even enough time for Liora to aim her Air Slashes.

There was a good thing about this rampage. The humanoid hyena didn't care much for its subordinates. Any of the little guys who happened to be unlucky enough to be in the way were thrown aside like ragdolls or stomped into the gro...

[ToM] Chapter 102 – Magitech Market

"What do you think, Miss Melina? A chance to work at the main branch of the Bakers Guild. You'll be taught all of our baking secrets and techniques, and you'll be treated as a full-fledged member of the Guild and not just an apprentice," Lord Speziale said.

The crowd let out a gasp of awe. This kind of offer didn't come every day. Apprentices didn't get promoted to baker overnight. From the perspective of any young apprentice, this was a golden opportunity to get ahead in life. Only a f...

[MGE] Chapter 13 – My Shiny

Liora flew after the hyenas, ready to beat them all to pulp to get Renir's gem back. But the little creeps stuck close together as they ran with their tails between their legs. She couldn't find a good chance to get to the hyena that swallowed the gem.

She didn't give up. She was ready to chase after them until the end of the world. That was her gem! Her one, most precious treasure. She wouldn't give it up to anyone or anything. She gave up her precious nest and home for it—like hell ...

[MGE] Chapter 12 – Blightstone

The ooze kept converging into a single spot, becoming increasingly denser as more of it clumped together. A small blob formed from the sludge, until finally the last bits of it were absorbed into a menacing, dark stone.

"I don't know what that is, but I don't like it one bit," Renir said. 

Liora had to agree. Whatever that black stone was, it was bad news. But just leaving it lying around there also felt wrong. Cautiously, Liora landed some distance away from it.

"What ...

[ToM] Chapter 101 – Sparkle Meringue Pie

"Two hours have passed in what felt like a blur, hasn't it, folks?" Lord Speziale said with a smile as all contestants stood by their workstations with ready dishes in front of them.

Melina looked at the other creations with great interest. She knew they would be no pushovers, but seeing what they had made, she had lost her confidence. Melina could see that in terms of experience, they definitely had her beat. Did she even have a chance of winning? She wasn't so sure anymore.

She ...

[MGE] Chapter 11 – Cat and Magpie

The corrupted, nasty hyena charged at Liora so fast she barely had the time to take flight. Its giant maw closed on the very tip of her tail feathers.

Ew, ew, ew! That will get infected now for sure! Will I have to cut off my tail to keep it from spreading?

"What is going on?"  Renir demanded.

"Chak-chak-chak!" She exclaimed. "How am I supposed to explain this to you?! My mimicry library doesn't have enough human words yet."

"None of that magpie ...

Celebrating 100 ToM chapters!

Yay! Taste of Magic officially has 100 chapters released on Patreon! To celebrate this occasion, I made a little something for you to enjoy.

Now this is made with AI, so if it's not your cup of tea, I understand. Feel free to ignore this and continue reading chapters. This is just something I did fun and I figured some of you might enjoy it as well.

For those who are still interested, enjoy a little song–a duet between Melina and Alistair. Intro is a bit long, so if you want to ...

[ToM] Chapter 100 – Sunglow Baking Competition

Alistair didn't like this. He didn't like this one bit. The way Count Speziale had approached Melina. The fact that he recognized her as a System user from a mere glance. Sure, the man was older and more experienced than Alistair, so he probably could recognize the signs much better. But the man still rubbed him the wrong way.

"I can't believe Miss Melina will participate in that cooking competition. Count Speziale is an absolute creep!" Charlotte complained. 

The two of them...

[ToM] Chapter 99 – Chocolate and Gold

Melina looked in surprise at Alistair's little sister, who was staring at Sienna. She then glanced at Alistair, hoping to find a solution from him. But he looked utterly helpless—apparently, he hadn't expected her to just bring Sienna out in the open like that.

"Is that a real monster?" The girl repeated, looking at Sienna wide-eyed. "It is so cute!"

Melina blinked in surprise as the girl ran up to her, peering up at Sienna. "Miss Baker, what is this creature?"

"Oh… Well...

[MGE] Chapter 10 – Corruption

Liora had been terrified when she saw the black owl slice through the moth. She feared that it might end much the same way as the fight with the hawk. It turned out she was worried for nothing.

"Buh-rup!" She mimicked the <Paralysis Croak> almost automatically to see whether it would work.

[You've successfully mimicked the skill <Paralysis Croak>.]

The owl seized up, paralysis making it twitch as its nervous system refused to obey. Liora began pe...

[ToM] Chapter 98 – Family Reunion

Alistair felt like he was heading into a battlefield, almost to war. He stood at the entrance gate of Sinclair's summer house in Pertia. Well, it wasn't quite in Pertia, but rather a bit outside the city. It was a grand manor done in the northern style more typical for Fenrora—long spires, thick walls, small windows. He wasn't really a fan—it stood out like a sore thumb, especially next to the town that felt more summery and homely.

The servants greeted him at the entrance gate, the...

[MGE] Chapter 9 – Blightpeak

As much as Renir wanted for Liora to start beating monsters into submission, she had different intentions. She needed to eat something first. 

But obviously, she couldn't fly into town with this nice satchel around her neck. That would just give those cursed mages a clue as to where they were. So instead, Liora flew up to the rafters, hoping to hide the gem in a place where no human could see it or reach it.

That spot looks suitable. If a bit dirty.

There was a...

[ToM] Chapter 97 – Blueberry-Zephyr Muffins

Should I really do this? This is crazy! What if I run into the Duke? There's no way that would end well.

These and similar thoughts passed through Melina's mind as she slowly made her way to Alistair's house. She had a box with her new pastries—a few tiny shimmertartlets, the fruit puff pastries with feyfruit glaze, and eclairs with scorchvine pepper and chocolate glaze (names still pending). In reality, they were nothing more than excuses for her to visit Alistair. He had wa...

[MGE] Chapter 8 – Pigeons

"So our goal is to attract as many of those hawks as possible," Renir said, as Liora stealthily hid in the tree canopy. 

She made sure to stick to dark shadows so nobody would be able to notice her. It appeared to be working, because she'd seen at least three hawks monitoring the skies, and none of them had spotted her. 

Unfortunately, she also witnessed them harassing other magpies. They would grab them, much like the other hawk had grabbed her, likely interrogating the...

[ToM] Chapter 96 – Duke Sinclair

Melina hurriedly pulled Leliana inside, closing the door behind herself. "Master, there's something I need to discuss with Leliana. We'll be in my room." 

"Since when did you two grow so close?" Gilbert asked suspiciously as Melina pulled Leliana through the kitchen.

"What are you talking about, Master Gilbert? We've been good friends since day one!" Leliana said it so convincingly that Melina almost believed it.

Gilbert, however, stared at them suspiciously.

"I w...

[ToM] Chapter 95 – Festival Preparations

Melina gaped at Leon in shock. She had expected him to ask different things. Like how she knew how to control magic? Was she a System user? Where did she get her knowledge from while being so young? All very valid questions. But she never expected Leon to ask her to teach him magic.

"No!" Melina said hastily.

"W-Wha? Why not?!" Leon clearly hadn't expected rejection, looking utterly shocked.

"I-I'm not a mage! I can't teach you anything."

"Miss Melina, please! I don't ...

[MGE] Chapter 7 – More than a Magpie

"Chak-chak…" Liora let out weakly. She had been running on pure adrenaline before, because once she returned to her nest, the pain hit her like a truck. The giant one that carries cement blocks or something. Because damn, did it hurt!

"You don't sound good at all…" Renir noted nervously. "We should initiate your evolution as soon as possible."

"Caw!" She screeched. "I'm a bit busy here."

Her leg was bleeding horribly. A good chunk of her nest and treasures had a...

[ToM] Chapter 94 – Mana Corruption

Melina hesitated for only a second. Only for a brief moment did she wonder whether she should get involved. The next moment, she was already by Leon's side.

"Put on a hard surface like a table and make sure nobody else enters the room!" Melina instructed.

The adventurers looked confused at first, seeing her suddenly take charge of the situation.

"It's an order! Lay him on a table and get everyone who can't help out!" Alistair commanded.

"W-What are you two doing?" Guil...

[MGE] Chapter 6 – Hunter and Prey

It was early morning. The sun wasn't even peeking into Liora's nest yet. But there was some sort of noise.

Must be those pesky sparrows. They start chirping before the sun even properly rises.

Liora buried her beak deeper beneath her wing and forced herself back into dreamland. It was peaceful for a short moment. 

Fastest wings, gaze at them if you dare

Just ignore it. You can't wake up because of every sparrow outside. Let t...