Reincarnated Into a Monster Harem Fantasy?

The horizon glowed faintly, the first rays of sunlight spilling over the landscape as Mother and I stood facing each other. Her sharp amber eyes gleamed with expectation

"You want to learn aura?" she asked again, her voice low but heavy with meaning.

I crossed my arms, standing tall despite the gnawing nervousness in my gut. "Yeah. I heard about it from Vic, and I saw the King use it. If it's the next step for me, I want you to teach me."

Mother exhaled, giving a small shake of her head. "The simple answer is: I can't teach you." She paused, watching my reaction carefully before continuing.

"Aura isn't like magic—it's not something you memorize or study. Aura is the power of your body in perfect harmony. Everything—your thoughts, your instincts, your movements—has to align into one fluid, instantaneous reaction. It's what some call the flow state."

Her voice softened for a moment. "Most people can't even tap into it, not once in their lifetime. But those who've mastered their body… well, for them, it's as easy as breathing."

She lifted her hand, and I watched as the soft, golden warmth of her aura enveloped it like a second skin. It radiated a peaceful, tranquil energy, making the air around her feel oddly calm.

"It can be soft and serene, like this," she said. Then, without warning, her aura shifted—hardened—and extended past her hand into a razor-thin point, almost like a spear of pure energy.

The air itself seemed to buzz with tension, and my heart stuttered as every instinct in me screamed danger. A cold bead of sweat traced a slow path down my neck.

"Or it can be sharp and deadly," she continued, her voice calm, as if she hadn't just conjured something that felt like death itself.

I swallowed hard. "Does this 'instantaneous reaction'—this flow state—get disrupted when you enhance your body with a bond?"

Mother grinned, the proud, knowing expression of someone who knew I was starting to understand. "Look at you thinking. Yes, it does. When your body changes, even slightly, through a bond, it's like learning a new language. You have to re-learn how to move, react, and feel in that form to use aura properly."

As she spoke, her form flickered, and suddenly, her hand morphed into the enormous claw of an Earth Dragon, a result of one of her bonds. The soft, golden aura returned, wrapping effortlessly around the massive limb.

"So how can I learn it?" I asked, my voice steady even as I knew the answer wouldn't be simple.

"I told you—I can't teach you," she said, folding her arms. "But I can force your body to learn."

I raised an eyebrow. "What does that even mean?"

Her grin widened, a glimmer of mischief flashing in her eyes. "It's a technique we Amazons have used for generations. You push your body to its absolute limit, fight until you can't think—until all you can do is react. It's dangerous, yes, but thanks to our stamina, we can do it without… well, without dying."

I blinked. "How long will this take?"

"It could take days."

I grimaced. "Breaks?"

"None."

I sighed, already regretting everything. "Guess I asked for this, huh?"

Mother's grin deepened. "Remember your training program when you were younger?"

I nodded, a pit forming in my stomach. That hellish routine still haunted me.

"Double it," she said mercilessly. "We need your body warmed up."

I stared at her in disbelief, and one word rang loud and clear in my mind:

FUCK.

~~~~

VIC POV 

"Master, I've been stuck at the Fifth Circle for months. What am I doing wrong?" I asked, frustration clear in my voice.

"To put it simply—nothing. You're incredibly advanced, Victor. Far beyond where I was at your age," Master said with a reassuring smile.

"Then why am I stuck?" I pressed, confused.

"Because... you're too good at magic."

"What?"

"Let me explain," he continued. "Even for a high elf, whose race has an extraordinary natural affinity for magic, you've progressed quickly. But even a high elf's body has limits—it's not yet ready for the level of power you're reaching. So the only logical solution..." His eyes gleamed as he paused. "You need a better body. Catching on?"

"Yeah... I need a bond," I said, the realization dawning.

"Exactly! And more importantly, you'll need a magically aligned monster with the same elemental affinity as you. A mage's bond is crucial for how far they can advance. For most mages, their bond's external traits don't matter as much—it's all about compatibility with their magical aptitude."

"What about bonds that boost other abilities, like stealth or agility?" I asked.

"They're useful, yes. But ultimately, those secondary traits come second to your primary magical affinity. Still, there's a catch to all of this." He smiled knowingly. "Care to guess what it is?"

"Well… based on what I've read, I shouldn't try to form my primary magic bond right away. I'll need an initial bond first, ideally something powerful—like an Ascended-class or even a Master-class monster to set you up for a Queen-class magically aligned monster later."

Master beamed. "My future son-in-law is so sharp! Exactly. It's a decision that needs to be carefully planned and well thought out"

"But… isn't Mira your first bond? She's over 10,000 years old," I said, raising an eyebrow.

"At the time, she was 9,800," he corrected with a grin. "She hadn't quite reached the rank of Queen. But no, she wasn't my first bond. I've only shown my first bond to my wife—and no one else."

"Why keep it a secret?"

"For one, she hates attention. And two…" He gave me a sly look. "A mage needs to keep a few trump cards up his sleeve."

I crossed my arms, smirking. "So you do keep secrets from your family. Huh. Shocking." I gave him an exaggerated pout.

"Don't pull that face—it's not fair!" he barked, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation.

~~~~

Two days later 

LYRA POV

Two women were engaged in fierce combat that looked almost wild. There was no emotion showing on their battle hardened expressions . The usual mother daughter duo was gone replaced by two enemies bonded by the clash of their swords 

Lyra tightened her grip. Keep moving. Don't think. Just react. But her thoughts kept creeping in. She's faster. Stronger. 

Morgana lunged, the tip of her sword aiming for Lyra's ribs. She barely twisted out of the way, feeling the blade sing past her skin like a whisper. She retaliated with a quick, angled slash toward her mother's shoulder.

Morgana blocked effortlessly, their swords locked together for a moment. Their eyes met sharp, cold, and distant. No motherly warmth. No shared history. Just two warriors, reflections in steel.

Lyra was falling, falling into primal instinct. Fighting for so long was slowly bring out the instinctual feeling all warriors had deep down 

Her mind finally surrendered, no longer trying to anticipate her mothers moves, she just reacted, moved on instinct. Time stretched, and vision blurred just focusing on the woman in front of her

The next exchange unfolded like a dance choreographed by instinct.

Morgana thrusts her sword and Lyra parries without a flicker of hesitation.

Lyra's body rolled into a sidestep, as natural as breathing. Flowing into a feint which continued into a slash from above her sword met it in a ringing arc, then slipped free, drawing a shallow cut across Morganas' forearm.

Morgana only grinned, wild and approving. "Good. Remember that feeling. Control it. Force it outwards"

Lyra didn't hear the word as much as feel it, a vibration carried through the clash of their swords. She flowed into her next move, a sharp twist, sword angled low, forcing Morgana to retreat 

Lyra's skin began to glow and flicker between the same golden light her mother showed previously. She was almost there, the state of complete focus

She was reaching the flow state 

Her mother's eyes narrowed, recognizing the shift. For the first time, Morgana was serious 

Lyra began her attack again

She advanced with fluid steps, every motion seamless, uninterrupted. A downward slash, followed by a low sweep. A feint left, then a pivot into an upward stab. Morgana parried everything her blade not even struggling 

By now Lyra's skin was covered in a flowing gold aura wrapping tightly against her body. Empowering her, her muscles gained new found power as well as giving her supernatural instincts

"Good Job My daughter, Our sisters would be proud of your accomplishment. But it's time for me to end this, I've already pushed you too far" Morgana praised 

Morganas' fierce gold aura came to life again seeping out of her skin solidifying into an exoskeleton of pure power 

Her blows came faster, heavier, breaking Lyra's rhythm. But the girl absorbed the pressure without faltering. She weaved around each strike as if she were already where the sword wasn't.

'This is good… too good.' Morgana thought 

This time she instantly appeared behind Lyra seemingly teleporting she dealt one decisive blow straight to the back of her neck knocking her out 

Morgana caught her daughter, not letting her drop to the cold training ground stone. Picking her up into a princess carry. She carried her daughter through the house passing her husband and son and law in the process 

"Did she do it?" Caspian said 

"She did, she even exceed my expectations" She said twisting her arm showing the slight cut on her forearm 

"Wow she even managed to cut you, I'm so proud!"

"As am I, she accomplished a lot in our two days of training"

"You trained her for two days straight?" Victor chimed in 

"Yeah it's a process of attaining aura made by my sisters. Basically you fight until you can't anymore or attain aura" Morgana said 

"Word of warning Victor never underestimate an Amazon's stamina" the warning seemed to convey multiple meanings as morgana smirked at the comment 

"Thankfully I won't be alone for long" Victor said catching on slightly blushing 

"Okay I'm taking her to bed, she's going to need the rest" Morgana says walking away from the pair 

Walking through the castle Morgana makes it to Lyra's childhood room laying her on her bed

"I can't believe your leaving us so soon, It seems like yesterday the day I brought you into the world" Morgana said reminiscing 

She paused for a moment just watching the subtle rising and falling of her daughters chest as she soundly slept

"Daughter, You've become a true warrior, I couldn't be more proud" She said getting up walking out of the quiet room