Haru's POV
The hooves of Haru Blackthorn's stallion thundered against the dirt path as he led his small contingent of soldiers through the forest. Dawn had barely broken, casting long shadows across their path, but there was no time to waste. The Rosewood merchant family had to be dealt with before midday.
'This is absolute madness. I've been in this body for only a month, and I'm already executing my first "assignment." Father really didn't waste time testing my loyalty.'
Outwardly, Haru's face remained an impassive mask of cruelty—the expression expected of the heir to the infamous Blackthorn family, rulers of the Eastern Province. Despite being only fifteen, his tall frame and piercing blue eyes commanded respect and fear. His gloved hands tightened around the reins as he pushed his mount faster.
"My lord," called one of his guards, struggling to keep pace. "Should we not conserve our strength? The merchants are not going anywhere."
Haru turned his head slightly, his cold gaze making the soldier flinch.
"Are you questioning my orders?" His voice was sharp as the blade at his hip, perfectly controlled despite his youth.
'Sorry about that. I don't want to be a jerk, but if I don't maintain this persona, everything will fall apart.'
"N-no, Lord Blackthorn! I merely thought—"
"There's your mistake," Haru cut him off. "I don't pay you to think. I pay you to follow."
The soldier bowed his head in submission, falling back into formation. Haru faced forward again, his jaw clenched so tight it ached.
One month. That's all it had been since he had awakened in this body with memories that weren't his own, knowledge of events that hadn't happened yet, and a path laid out before him that would lead to destruction. The real Haru Blackthorn had been cruel beyond measure, following in his father's footsteps as a sadist who delighted in others' pain. The Earl of Blackthorn was now passing more responsibilities to his son as he prepared for a comfortable retirement, confident that his legacy of terror would continue.
But things could be different now. They had to be.
If only he could maintain this precarious balancing act.
"We're approaching the Rosewood estate, my lord." Another guard pointed to a clearing ahead where a modest manor house stood surrounded by smaller buildings. Smoke rose from several chimneys, evidence that the household was awake and unaware of their impending fate.
Haru raised his hand, signaling the group to stop. "I want the perimeter secured. No one enters or leaves once we begin. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Lord Blackthorn!" the soldiers responded in unison with deadpanned expressions on their faces.
'Oh God, they sound so dead, they must be preparing themselves to see what they believe is going to be a slaughter. I need to get them away from the house.'
"Captain," Haru addressed the leader of his guard. "Take most of the men and secure the surrounding forest. I don't want any... unfortunate escapes." He infused his voice with just enough malice to make his intentions clear.
"And you, my lord?" the captain asked.
"I'll take a few men and begin the... interrogation. I want to ensure the head of the family understands exactly why this is happening." Haru's smile was cold and calculating. "After all, treason against the Blackthorn name deserves a personal touch."
'This should work. I need most of them away from the house when I implement the actual plan.'
The captain nodded, gathering most of the soldiers and leading them into the surrounding woods. Haru was left with just three guards—the minimum he could request without arousing suspicion.
He dismounted, his tall frame imposing despite his youth, dressed in the black and silver armor that marked him as a Blackthorn commander. The sword at his hip—Nightfall, supposedly forged with dark magic—gleamed ominously in the morning light.
As they approached the main entrance, Haru's mind raced. In the original path, Haru Blackthorn would kick down the door, drag out Aaron Rosewood and his family, and execute them one by one for allegedly supplying weapons to rebels. This event would later motivate Lily Rosewood, the family's only surviving member and a gifted healer, to join a party of heroes in their quest against the Blackthorn dynasty.
But he knew the truth. The Rosewoods were innocent. The weapons had been planted by Haru's own father to eliminate a merchant family that was growing too wealthy and influential. And more importantly, he knew the family's execution would set in motion events eventually leading to the awakening of the Blight, a corruption that would engulf the World Tree and end all life.
'I can't let that happen. Not when I have the knowledge to prevent it.'
Haru strode up to the door and knocked firmly—a departure from the original script already.
A servant opened the door, his eyes widening in terror upon recognizing the Blackthorn crest. "L-Lord Blackthorn! We... we weren't expecting—"
"Clearly," Haru replied coolly. "Inform Master Rosewood that I require his presence. Immediately."
The servant scurried away, leaving Haru and his guards in the entryway. Minutes later, a middle-aged man with graying auburn hair appeared, hastily dressed in merchant finery. Behind him stood a woman of similar age and a young man who appeared to be their son.
"Lord Blackthorn," Aaron Rosewood bowed deeply, his voice remarkably steady for a man who must have heard rumors about why the young Blackthorn heir would pay him a visit. "To what do we owe this... honor?"
Haru stepped forward, his height impressive even for his age as he towered over the merchant. "I believe you know exactly why I'm here, Rosewood. Treason against House Blackthorn cannot go unpunished."
Aaron's face paled, but he maintained his composure. "My lord, I assure you, we have committed no treason. We have always been loyal subjects—"
"Save your protests," Haru interrupted. He glanced at his guards. "Secure the perimeter of this room. I wish to speak to Master Rosewood alone first. I want to... hear his excuses before we proceed."
'I need to get rid of these witnesses, even if temporarily.'
The guards hesitated. This wasn't standard procedure, especially for a noble as high-ranking as Haru.
"Did I stutter?" Haru's voice dropped dangerously low.
"No, my lord. At once." The guards bowed and moved to different corners of the large entry hall, out of earshot but still watching.
Haru leaned in close to Aaron Rosewood, his expression still severe. To anyone watching, it would appear he was issuing threats. Instead, he whispered urgently, "Listen carefully. I know you're innocent. The weapons were planted by my father. You and your family are in grave danger."
Aaron's eyes widened, confusion evident on his face. "What? I don't understand—"
"You don't need to understand everything right now. You just need to trust me." 'Which is a ridiculous thing to ask considering who I am.'
"Where is your daughter, Lily?" Haru asked, keeping his voice low.
Surprise flashed across Aaron's features. "She's visiting her grandmother in Westhollow. She left three days ago."
'Thank the gods for small mercies. At least she's safe for now.'
"Good. Here's what's going to happen. I'm going to make it look like I'm arresting you all for interrogation. My men outside are expecting an execution, but I've sent most of them into the forest. Once we're away from the manor, I have arrangements to get you safely to Silverkeep. You'll need to start a new life there."
"Silverkeep? But that's across the border! Our home, our business—"
"Will be destroyed either way," Haru cut in. "It's either lose your livelihood or lose your lives. Which do you prefer?"
The merchant's wife stifled a sob behind her hand. The son stepped forward, his face a mask of suspicion. "Why would you help us? The Blackthorns have never shown mercy."
Haru's expression didn't change. 'Because I'm not the person everyone thinks I am. Because I know what happens if you die here today. Because I'm trying to stop a catastrophe that no one else can see coming.'
Aloud, he merely said, "Let's just say I have my reasons, and they align with keeping your family alive. Now, can you play along, or shall I leave you to your fate?"
Aaron Rosewood studied Haru's face, perhaps searching for deceit. Finally, he nodded. "What do you need us to do?"
"Look terrified. It shouldn't be difficult." Haru stepped back, raising his voice for the benefit of the guards. "Your excuses are pathetic, Rosewood! Guards, bind them. We're taking them back to the Eastern Fortress for... proper questioning."
The guards moved forward eagerly, securing the family with rough rope bindings.
"Please, my lord," Aaron begged loudly, playing his part. "At least spare my son! He knows nothing of our business dealings!"
Haru sneered. "Silence! Your entire line is tainted with treachery. You'll all face Blackthorn justice."
'I'm sorry for this rough treatment. It's the only way to get you out alive.'
As they led the family outside, Haru's captain returned from the forest sweep. "The perimeter is secure, my lord. Shall we begin the execution here?"
"No," Haru replied sharply. "These traitors have information I need. We're taking them back to the fortress for interrogation first."
The captain looked surprised. This deviated from the earl's explicit orders that the family be executed on the spot as an example.
"Is there a problem, Captain?" Haru's voice was deadly quiet.
"No, my lord. But your father specifically instructed—"
"My father is beginning his retirement and has entrusted me with this task. I will handle it as I see fit." Haru's hand moved to Nightfall's hilt. "Unless you believe the earl has more faith in your judgment than mine?"
The captain swallowed hard. "No, Lord Blackthorn. We'll follow your orders."
"Excellent. Prepare the wagons. And burn the estate to the ground. I want nothing left."
'I'm sorry about your home. But we need to make this look convincing.'
As his men hurried to obey, Haru watched the Rosewood family being loaded into a covered wagon. Their faces showed genuine fear, but beneath it, he could see a hint of desperate hope.
'One death flag avoided. But there are so many more to go.'
In the original path, Lily Rosewood would return to find her family's estate in ashes and their severed heads on spikes. Her grief would lead her to the Temple of Dawn, where she would dedicate herself to healing magic and eventually join the hero's party. Without that trauma, the storyline would change dramatically. Haru could only hope it would change for the better.
As flames began to engulf the Rosewood manor, Haru mounted his stallion and led the procession back toward the Eastern Fortress. But they wouldn't arrive there. At the fork in the Silvermere Road, Haru had arranged for a "rebel attack"—actually mercenaries he had hired with his own funds—to "abduct" the prisoners and dispatch most of his guards.
It was a dangerous game he was playing. If his father discovered his betrayal, the punishment would be unimaginable. But for now, he had managed the first of many necessary deviations from the script of doom that had been written for this world.
'The first bad ending has been altered atleast.'
Lily's POV
The forested path to Westhollow had never seemed so endless. Lily Rosewood urged her tired mare forward, anxiety gnawing at her stomach. Three days ago, she had received a cryptic message at her grandmother's cottage—a warning from one of her father's most trusted servants.
Danger approaches from the east. Do not return home.
East meant the Blackthorns. Everyone in the kingdom feared the ruling family of the Eastern Province, but none more than the merchant houses who lived under their direct control. Stories of their cruelty were legendary, particularly those about the Earl Blackthorn and now his son, Haru Blackthorn, who was rumored to be even more cold-blooded than his father. At only fifteen, the young heir was already being groomed to take over as his father prepared for retirement.
Lily had wanted to heed the warning, but when another messenger arrived this morning with news that columns of smoke could be seen rising from the direction of her family's estate, she could no longer stay away. Grandmother had begged her to remain hidden, but Lily wouldn't—couldn't—abandon her family to whatever fate had befallen them.
"Please be alive," she whispered, her green eyes filling with tears as she pushed her horse faster through the forest. "Please, Goddess of Light, keep them safe."
At seventeen, Lily was the youngest of the Rosewood children. Her older brothers had all established themselves in different parts of the kingdom, expanding the family's trading network. Only Eldrin, the middle son, had remained at home to learn the business directly from their father. Lily herself had been studying healing arts at the Royal Academy, showing a remarkable aptitude that had earned her the nickname "Lily of Life" among her instructors.
But all her healing knowledge would be useless if she arrived too late.
As she crested the final hill overlooking their estate, Lily's heart froze in her chest. Where the sprawling manor house had once stood, only charred ruins remained. Smoke still rose from several points, suggesting the fire had been recent.
"No," she breathed, spurring her exhausted mare down the hill. "No, no, no!"
Approaching the devastation, Lily dismounted and ran toward what had once been her home. The heat from smoldering timbers forced her to stop several yards from the main structure. Nothing could have survived that inferno.
"Father! Mother! Eldrin!" Her cries echoed across the empty courtyard, answered only by the crackle of dying flames.
Frantically, she circled the property, searching for any sign of life—or death. What she feared most was finding bodies, especially in the manner the Blackthorns were known for displaying their victims. But strangely, there were none. No bodies impaled on spikes, no severed heads on display, not even the remains of servants who might have perished in the fire.
It was as if everyone had simply vanished.
Near the stables, which had been spared the worst of the blaze, Lily found a middle-aged man tending to the horses. She recognized him as Farrin, one of their stable hands.
"Farrin!" she cried, rushing toward him. "What happened? Where is everyone?"
The man jumped at her voice, his weathered face paling as if he'd seen a ghost. "Lady Lily! You shouldn't be here! It's not safe!"
"Where is my family?" she demanded, gripping his arm with desperate strength.
Farrin looked around nervously before pulling her into the shadow of the stable. "They were taken, my lady. Young Lord Blackthorn came at dawn with his soldiers. They took your parents and Master Eldrin away."
"Taken? Not killed?" A spark of hope ignited in Lily's chest.
"Not here, at least," Farrin confirmed. "Though the Blackthorn boy ordered the manor burned. I hid in the hayloft when I saw them coming. Most of the other servants fled into the forest."
"Which Blackthorn was it? The earl himself?"
"No, my lady. It was his son, Lord Haru. They say he's being groomed to take his father's place now that the earl is stepping back from his duties."
Lily had never seen Haru Blackthorn in person, but his reputation was growing quickly. Cold, ruthless, and despite his youth, already becoming known for his efficiency in eliminating his father's enemies.
"Did you hear anything? Any mention of where they were taking my family?"
Farrin hesitated. "The soldiers were saying something about interrogation at the Eastern Fortress. But my lady... no one taken there for 'questioning' ever returns."
The Eastern Fortress, ancestral seat of the Blackthorn family and rumored to have dungeons that reached deep into the mountains. If her family was there, she had to try to reach them.
"I need supplies," Lily decided, her mind racing. "Food, water, a change of clothes if anything survived—"
"You can't be thinking of going after them!" Farrin looked horrified. "The Blackthorns would kill you on sight!"
"I won't abandon my family," Lily stated firmly. "I'll disguise myself. Find a way in. I studied healing magic—perhaps I could pose as a healer for the fortress."
'A dangerous plan, but what choice do I have?'
"Lady Lily, please reconsider. Your father would want you to be safe—"
"My father would do the same for me," she cut him off. "Help me prepare, Farrin. Please."
The stable hand stared at her for a long moment, then sighed heavily. "There are supplies hidden in the old storehouse that the fire didn't reach. Emergency provisions your father kept for... well, for something like this, I suppose."
Hope surged in Lily's chest. Her father had always been cautious, planning for contingencies others dismissed as paranoia. Now, those preparations might save their lives.
As Farrin led her to the hidden cache, Lily's mind turned to the Blackthorns, particularly Haru Blackthorn. What kind of monster could burn a family's home and abduct innocent people for a father's approval? She had heard he was striking—tall for his age with raven-black hair and eyes as cold as midwinter frost, devoid of mercy or compassion despite his youth.
'I'll find you, monster,' she promised silently. 'And I'll make you pay for what you've done to my family.'
Little did she know that the young man she intended to confront was nothing like the legends described. Or that their fateful meeting would change not just their lives, but the destiny of the entire world.
Haru's POV
The "rebel attack" had gone according to plan—almost too perfectly, which made Haru suspicious. His hired mercenaries, disguised as rebels, had ambushed their caravan at exactly the right moment, "killing" most of his guards in the orchestrated chaos. The captain had fought bravely until Haru himself had knocked him unconscious with the hilt of his sword.
'Sorry about that, Captain. You're a loyal soldier, but I couldn't let you report what really happened.'
Now, as Haru rode beside the merchant family's wagon on a hidden forest path, he couldn't shake the feeling that things had been too easy. In this world, any deviation from the expected path usually triggered unexpected consequences, often making things worse. What had he changed by saving the Rosewoods?
"Lord Blackthorn," Aaron Rosewood called softly from the wagon. "May I have a word?"
Haru slowed his horse to ride alongside the merchant. "What is it?"
"I still don't understand why you're helping us. The Blackthorns have never shown mercy to anyone, least of all merchant families accused of treason."
'Because I'm trying to prevent a disaster no one else can see coming. Because I have knowledge I shouldn't have. Because your daughter is crucial to this world's survival.'
Aloud, he merely said, "Let's just say I have my reasons to oppose my father's methods. Your family's execution would serve no purpose except to satisfy his paranoia."
"But you're risking everything. If the earl discovers your betrayal—"
"He won't," Haru interrupted, though the same fear had been weighing on him. "As far as anyone knows, you were taken for interrogation and killed during a rebel attack. Your bodies were lost. End of story."
Aaron studied him with shrewd merchant's eyes. "No, young lord. This is too great a risk for such a simple explanation. There must be more."
Haru hesitated. How much could he safely reveal? These weren't game characters anymore—these were real people with real lives. Yet he needed allies who understood the stakes.
"What do you know about the World Tree?" he asked finally.
Aaron looked surprised by the change in subject. "The World Tree? It's the subject of old legends. A divine tree that sustains all life, hidden somewhere beyond the Mist Veil. Some believe it's merely a myth."
"It's not a myth," Haru said quietly. "And it's dying. Or rather, it will begin to die very soon, unless certain events are prevented."
The merchant's eyebrows rose. "And our execution is one of these events?"
"A catalyst, yes." Haru glanced around to ensure none of the mercenaries were within earshot. "Your daughter, Lily. She's important. More important than you can imagine."
Aaron's expression hardened. "What do you know of my daughter?"
'Everything. In the original story, she becomes the healer who saves the hero multiple times, who eventually learns the ritual to purify the World Tree but fails because of the hatred in her heart. Without her, there is no hope for this world.'
"I know she studies healing magic. I know she has unusual talent. And I know that if she finds your severed heads on spikes outside your burning home, she will be set on a path that leads to great suffering."
The merchant blanched. "You were going to—"
"Not me," Haru corrected. "The person everyone believes me to be." He sighed, considering how much to reveal. "I've... received visions. Knowledge of events that haven't yet occurred. I can't explain how, but I know what would have happened if I had followed my father's orders today."
Aaron stared at him for a long moment. "You're right. That is difficult to believe."
"I don't expect you to trust me fully. But I'm asking you to consider the facts: I'm a Blackthorn, with everything to lose and nothing to gain by helping you. Yet here we are."
The merchant fell silent, contemplating. Finally, he spoke again. "What happens now? We abandon our life's work and hide in Silverkeep forever?"
"Not forever," Haru replied. "And not just hiding." He lowered his voice further. "I need people I can trust, Master Rosewood. People who can work in the shadows while I maintain my position in my father's court."
Aaron's eyes widened. "You're building a network against your own family?"
"I'm building a network to save this world," Haru corrected. "My father and his allies are blind to the coming danger. I have no choice but to play a dangerous game."
"And what role would we play in this game?"
"I need eyes and ears in Silverkeep. Information, connections, resources that I can't access directly. In exchange, I'll provide gold, protection, and eventually, a chance to return home when it's safe."
Aaron's expression turned thoughtful. "A merchant's skills applied to espionage and rebellion. An interesting proposition, Lord Blackthorn."
"Not rebellion," Haru corrected. "Salvation. There's a war coming, Master Rosewood. Not just between kingdoms, but something far worse. Forces beyond mortal understanding will be in play."
"And my daughter is caught in the middle of this?" Aaron's voice held a father's fear.
"She was always destined to be involved. I'm just trying to change how the story unfolds." Haru looked ahead to where the forest path joined a wider road. "We'll reach the border crossing by nightfall. My contact there will provide you with new identities, enough gold to establish yourselves comfortably, and instructions for secure communication."
"What about you? Won't you be missed?"
Haru smiled grimly. "I'll return to the Eastern Fortress with a tale of an ambush, heroic deaths of my men, and the tragic loss of the prisoners. My father will be disappointed he didn't get to witness your execution, but he'll believe me."
'I hope.'
In truth, Earl Blackthorn was far from a fool. He had eyes and ears everywhere, and Haru had to play his part perfectly. Any slip would be noted and analyzed. It was a dangerous game, walking this tightrope between maintaining his villainous persona and secretly working against the dark fate awaiting this world.
As if sensing his thoughts, Aaron asked, "What will you do after this? Return to being the young tyrant as if nothing has changed?"
"What choice do I have?" Haru replied. "I need my father's trust to have any chance of preventing what's coming. That means I must be the monster everyone believes me to be, at least on the surface."
"That sounds like a lonely path, Lord Blackthorn."
Haru didn't answer. It was indeed lonely, trapped in a role he despised, unable to reveal his true intentions to anyone but a select few. But it was the path he had been given, and he would walk it to the end.
As they rode in silence, Haru's thoughts turned to Lily Rosewood. In the original story, her path crossed with his multiple times, each encounter more hostile than the last. She had good reason to hate Haru Blackthorn, the man who murdered her family. Now that he had changed that crucial death flag, how would their story unfold?
And more importantly, would this change be enough to alter the final outcome—the awakening of the Blight and the destruction of the World Tree? Or had he merely delayed the inevitable?
'Only time will tell. For now, I've saved one family. It's a start.'
What Haru didn't realize was that fate had its own way of correcting course. And while he had altered one string of fate, many more still loomed on the horizon—including his own.
Sebastian's POV
Sebastian Thorne, head butler to the Blackthorn estate, carefully arranged the tea service on the silver tray. Earl Blackthorn was in a foul mood this morning, demanding his special blend at exactly the right temperature, with precisely three drops of honey—no more, no less. After thirty years of service to the Blackthorn family, Sebastian knew better than to disappoint his master, especially when the earl's notorious temper was already frayed.
As Sebastian glided silently through the corridors of the Eastern Fortress, servants scrambled to get out of his way. At sixty-two, his tall frame was still ramrod straight, his silver hair impeccably groomed, his black uniform without a single wrinkle. He had outlasted two countesses, witnessed the rise of the Blackthorn family from minor nobility to ruling the entire Eastern Province, and buried more secrets than anyone else in the household.
Including the most dangerous secret of all: his loyalty was no longer to the earl, but to the earl's young son.
Sebastian reached the earl's study and knocked precisely three times.
"Enter," came the gruff voice from within.
Earl Roland Blackthorn sat behind his massive oak desk, reading reports by the light streaming through towering windows. Though in his early fifties, the earl's imposing physique showed little sign of age. His black hair, streaked with silver at the temples, was pulled back in a severe style that emphasized his sharp features. The resemblance to his son was unmistakable, though the earl's eyes held a callous cruelty that Sebastian had never seen in young Haru—not the real Haru, at least.
"Your tea, my lord," Sebastian announced, placing the tray on the desk with practiced precision.
The earl didn't look up from his papers. "Any word from my son?"
"Not yet, my lord. But I expect news from the Rosewood estate soon."
"Hmm." The earl took a sip of his tea, savoring it. "His first solo mission. An important test."
"Indeed, my lord."
Sebastian maintained his impassive expression, though inwardly he worried for Haru. The boy had changed a month ago—suddenly, dramatically, and in ways only someone as observant as Sebastian would notice. The cruel, sadistic child who had delighted in tormenting servants had vanished overnight, replaced by someone who seemed to be playing a role—mimicking his former self while underneath...something entirely different resided.
Sebastian had confronted him in private, challenging the impostor, ready to expose him to the earl. But the explanation Haru had given—as unbelievable as it was—had rung true. And more importantly, it offered hope for a future that wasn't drenched in blood and fear.
"See that I'm informed the moment there's news," the earl ordered, dismissing Sebastian with a wave of his hand.
"Of course, my lord." Sebastian bowed and retreated from the room.
As he walked through the fortress, Sebastian's mind turned to the young master. Haru had been given a simple mission—execute the Rosewood family as an example to other merchant houses. It was a test of loyalty, of cruelty, of the boy's readiness to eventually take his father's place. The earl was beginning his slow transition to retirement, gradually handing more responsibilities to his heir.
But the new Haru—the one with knowledge of terrible futures—had confided in Sebastian his plan to save the Rosewoods while appearing to follow orders. A dangerous gamble that could cost them both their lives if discovered.
Sebastian entered the small room adjacent to his private quarters that served as his office. After ensuring no one was nearby, he unlocked a hidden compartment in his desk and removed a small crystal—a communication stone, enchanted to connect to its twin, which Haru carried.
"Be safe, young master," he whispered to the stone, though he knew Haru wouldn't hear him. "And return quickly. The game has only just begun."
Sebastian understood the risks better than most. As the earl's trusted butler, he had witnessed firsthand the brutality the Blackthorns were capable of. If Haru's deception was discovered, a quick death would be the most merciful outcome they could hope for.
But after decades of serving a master who ruled through fear and bloodshed, Sebastian had made his choice. He would help the young master change their fate, even if it cost him everything.
After all, what was the life of an old butler compared to the budding spirit of a righteous young man looking for the salvation of the world?