The Rich Cultivator

Tyla’s eyes fluttered open. Her vision swayed for a moment before settling on a dull gray ceiling made of rough-hewn stone. The air was cold and dry, tasting faintly of metal. Above, a low hum resonated — the rhythmic thrum of machinery hidden beyond the ceiling. Gears turned, steam hissed, and something massive shifted every few seconds, like the heartbeat of a sleeping giant.

She blinked slowly, her head pounding. When she tried to lift her hand, a faint click echoed. Her wrist refused to move freely. Looking down, she saw a glowing restraint clamped around her wrist — an aura-suppressing cuff etched with runes. It pulsed with a dim blue light, absorbing any energy she tried to summon.

"Great," she muttered. "How the hell did I get kidnapped?"

Despite her doubt, Tyla could still feel the quiet flicker of her own prana beneath the restraint. It was weak but steady. She could break it anytime she wanted — but for now, she decided to play along.

"Looks like you’re finally awake."

The voice that echoed through the chamber was smooth, confident, and oddly warm. Tyla turned her head toward the source.

A woman stepped into the light. She was tall and striking — sun-kissed brown skin wrapped in a white, fur-trimmed coat, golden-blonde hair cascading over her shoulders like silk. Her icy-blue eyes gleamed with intelligence and mischief, and every step she took was poised, calculated.

Tyla blinked, a strange familiarity prickling at the edge of her mind.

"Oh?" The woman tilted her head, a smile tugging at her lips as she walked closer. "Why do you feel so familiar..."

She crouched in front of Tyla and gently lifted her chin with a gloved hand. The faint scent of frost and something floral brushed past Tyla’s nose.

"Hello, miss," the woman said softly. "I’m Masha."

The name struck a faint chord inside Tyla. Masha... She knew that name. Or rather, Tyler did. A memory — fuzzy, incomplete — flickered somewhere in the recesses of her mind.

Masha continued speaking, voice smooth and deliberate. "Why did I kidnap you? Hmmm... technically, they did. I only ordered my people to bring anyone matching a specific aura signature. I wasn’t expecting..." she gave a teasing glance, "...a girl."

Tyla gave a short, unimpressed laugh. "So, I was just mistaken for someone else?"

Masha crossed her arms, smirking. "You look a lot like him. Tell me, do you happen to know someone named Tyler?"

The name made Tyla’s breath hitch. For an instant, her mind went blank. Of course. Tyler. Her past self.

She forced herself to stay calm. "Maybe," she said vaguely.

But her thoughts churned beneath her calm expression. This girl... she’s connected to my past life. But how much does she know?

The Masha before Tyla wasn’t the real person. A mirrored reflection rather than a soul.

This wasn’t the real Masha. It was one of her clones — the same Masha who was now with Isadora Nightkiss, the Manhunter.

This clone had been left here months ago, waiting for Tyler — waiting for him.

"I’ll release you," Masha said, pacing behind her. "If you just answer one thing honestly."

Tyla tilted her head. "And what’s that?"

"That guy — Tyler." Masha paused, her tone dipping between annoyance and fake sadness. "He promised me a date... and never showed up."

Tyla blinked. Then she groaned softly, rubbing her temple. "That... sounds exactly like something I’d do."

Masha leaned closer, resting a hand on her hip. "Come on, tell me the truth. I’m a friend, right?"

Tyla deadpanned. "Says the girl who restrained me to a wall."

Masha chuckled lightly. "You can break it anytime. It’s just an aura restraint. You’re not ordinary, are you? You use both prana and aura."

That statement froze Tyla in place.

"You..." Tyla said slowly, "really knew him."

Masha nodded, her expression softening. "I waited months in this frozen wasteland. My main body left me here. Said I’d find him — and give something that might alter the future a little."

There was warmth in her tone, but it felt artificial.

Tyla sighed, closing her eyes. "I lost my memories," she said finally. "This Tyler you’re talking about... that’s probably me."

Masha blinked. Then, after a moment of silence, her gaze wandered downward. Her expression twisted slightly — a mix of disbelief and envy.

"...Not fair," she muttered.

"What?" Tyla raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing." Masha clicked her tongue and looked away while touching her flat chest. "You turned into a girl... and somehow ended up with that body. Totally cheating."

Tyla smirked. "Maybe I’m just the upgraded version."

"Upgraded, my snow boots," Masha muttered. Then she straightened and reached into her coat. "Anyway. I’m actually a clone — a projection left behind by my main body. And she told me to find you and give you this."

She held out a small metallic cube, about the size of Tyla’s palm. The object shimmered faintly, covered in pulsing geometric runes that looked both futuristic and ancient.

Tyla took it carefully, feeling a faint hum through her fingertips. "What is this?"

Masha shrugged. "No idea. My main body didn’t say. Only that she’s from a timeline where you’re already dead. So, after you survive whatever’s coming, make sure this event happens again."

"...What?" Tyla’s voice rose an octave. "That’s— what does that even mean?!"

Masha laughed lightly, almost enjoying Tyla’s confusion. "According to her, the future version of me met the future version of you. You changed the past by surviving. But even with that change, you still die later. So she wanted me to deliver this cube. Some kind of... failsafe."

As she spoke, her form began flickering, fading at the edges.

"Wait— you’re disappearing?" Tyla said.

"Yeah," Masha replied casually. "Clone lifespan’s ending. I was made with some small materials. Oh — right! The group that helped me kidnap you is called the Justice Bandits... or was it Justice Gang? Whatever. You can use them if you want. Just say ’Justice Prevails’ to them."

"Masha—"

"Oh! And before I forget—"

In a blur, Masha stepped forward, grabbed Tyla’s face, and kissed her. Her lips were warm, soft — her tongue brushed briefly against Tyla’s before her entire body began to dissolve into glowing particles.

"W–wait! What was that for?!" Tyla gasped, flustered.

"’For the date you missed,’ that’s what my main body said," Masha’s fading voice echoed faintly. "Consider it paid."

And with that, she was gone.

The room fell silent, save for the constant hum of machines above. Tyla sat there for a long while, staring at the cube glowing faintly in her palm.

She finally let out a sigh. "With this sudden event, I understand only one thing. I am a pure playboy."

Leaning back against the cold wall, she looked up at the ceiling. "Will I die in the future? Maybe I just got confident because of the copper pot?"

"Oh... You woke up?"