It had been one year after the earthquake of Benazio. The small city had been back to normal. At least the buildings had been fixed. And some good mage did a secret activity to return the crack on the roads to normal. As usual, the citizens who were oblivious thought of it as a miracle.

Normal. Yes. Aside from one thing.

A lot of armored people in hood invaded the city. They brought weapons, like swords and spears. The bad news was that all of the weapons were enchanted with dangerous spells. Said spell was able to cut through many things, no matter how thick the target was, and made the blades very durable and light.

"All right! People of Benazio." Said the leader of the invaders, a bald man with white beard. "You must have known what our, The Marshals of Light's, intention is."

The city faced him with mixed anger and fear.

"The Relic of Cielo, the stone of peace that was entrusted to you, is broken!" He raised his spear. "And we would like a compensation for that."

"No way we can give you that!" A middle-aged man, seemed like the leader of the citizens, shouted. "We did a care for it! And I swear by God's name, none of use broke it!"

"Swear by God's name or anything! No one but you people touched it! Don't you understand that your area is under our jurisdiction! Don't you understand that by destroying Relic of Cielo, you declare a war!"

The leader was very mad. He faced his comrades and yelled. "Burn the city of Benazio!"

At the corner of the city, a man in red and black outfit entered the street. What he saw before his eyes was a battlefield. Women and children crying. Men crossing swords with each other.

"Trace. On."

His hands held twin swords, black and white respectively. His eyes focused on the fighting people.

As fast as a lightning, he stormed into the war.

Night came. The battle stopped for a while. The Marshals of Light had already taken place on the east part of Benazio. And the citizens took place on the west part of the city.

There were pained screams everywhere. The medics tried to heal the injured ones. Unable to watch it for one second more, Shirou went outside and sat on a hidden corner on a street.

Some men passed by. They lifted dead bodies, most of them drenched in blood. What caught his dull eyes was that one dead woman. He got up and got closer to the body.

Anneta Rossace. His acquaintance one year ago.

He didn't cry. But he knew his heart broke down with grief. Had he came a little bit earlier, she might have been saved.

"You know this woman?" A black-haired man asked him.

Shirou just nodded.

"Ah, if I wasn't wrong, you were with her one year ago." An old man appeared beside the magus.

"What did both of you do back then?" asked the man.

"We just… saw the Relic of Cielo. That's all."

"You saw it?"

Shirou nodded again. Without any words, he left.

"Shirou!"

The man looked up. Like one year ago, Rin showed up suddenly right in front of him. But now, her face was kind of dirty. Her cloak was thorn.

"What are you doing here?" She asked with a worry tone.

He replied solemnly. "Doing my job."

"What…" The magus couldn't find any words, then she gave up and sat beside the man.

"Ms. Rossace. You know she died, right?"

"Yes. I saw her."

Rin sighed. "It's all because of the Relic of Cielo."

"What happened, actually?" Shirou asked.

"The relic was found destroyed two days ago. As you had known, it's the peace agreement that sealed Benazio area under the jurisdiction of Marshals of Light. Well, all of the Marshals are competent mage with fighting skills. And the relic of Cielo itself was protected by a magic barrier."

"Then how did it break? Who did that?"

"Who knows? I suspect it's someone from the Marshals scapegoating the citizens. But I don't have any proof. As a matter of fact, they will fight to find the culprit between the citizen."

"If actually there isn't one?"

"By the time the Marshals realize that, it will be when all of the citizen die." The magus girl scratched her hand a bit. "They are all stubborn."

"Why? Is it really worthy to fight over a broken big stone? I mean, even if the relic isn't there, the peace pact shouldn't be lost, too, right?"

"The city of Benazio knew about magic, too. Once, after the relic was built, The Marshals of Light says that they will exterminate everything that endangers the relic. They need to keep their words true, if not, then they will lose fear from the other territories under their jurisdiction. Like I said, they are stubborn."

"I don't get it. People fight for weird reasons." Shirou scratched his head.

"You know that better than anyone, Shirou. You face battlefields."

There was a moment of silent. In the cold night, it seemed that the two were content by having each other by side. It kept them warm.

"Rin, it's not going to be long, right?"

"I hope not. I'll make sure to find the proof as soon as possible. I don't want anyone to die meaningless anymore."

"Yes, neither do I."

They stayed like that for the rest of the night.

The next day, the battle started again. The sounds of clashing metals were everywhere. Explosions and chants were heard all over the place. Everyone was fighting.

So was Shirou. He halted the movements of a bleached haired marshal. While another man stroke his magic-enchanted blade to him. But, then, a big, heavy scream was heard.

"STOP."

The battle amazingly stopped. A heavy trail of footsteps was heard. People slowly stepped aside, opening up a path from the one who walked to Emiya Shirou.

It was the bald, bearded leader of the Marshals of Light. And he held Rin with one arm, another one held a blade over her neck. Her face was very pale. If she wasn't being held, she would fell down right away.

"I heard that someone foreign ever came to visit the relic. And it was you, young man. Am I right?" He said with loud voice.

"Yes. I did come and visit it."

"Did you do anything with it?"

"No, why would I?"

"For some unknown missions you have on your agenda? Whatever. I don't believe you didn't do anything with the relic."

Suddenly, a yell was heard. It came from the old man from last night. "He's the culprit! He saw the relic of Cielo. He sabotaged it!"

Then another yell followed. And another and another. First from the citizens, then even the Marshals' knights also yelled.

Happy with the yelling, like it was the song of victory, the leader tightened his blade on Rin's neck. "Alright, Young Man. Choose! Confess your sin, or this woman dies!"

He looked around. People in unison declared him the culprit. When he looked at Rin in the eyes, she desperately said no. Then the magus woman moved her arm as fast as possible. Several gems were thrown towards the crowd and exploded, opening a path for Shirou to run.

"RUN, SHIROU!"

And then, the blade slit her neck. Furiously, the mad leader chased after Shirou. The white-haired man instinctive ran away towards the blasted area.

As he ran, he thought of an idea.

Anneta died. And Rin as well. He was now the scapegoat.

If he said that he wasn't the culprit, which was the truth, the citizens of Benazio would face a greater war. A greater war would result a greater misery.

If he said he was the culprit, the Marshals of Light was certainly going to bring him down He could be killed.

But if he said he was the culprit, a chance of peace for Benazio was certain.

Suddenly, the idea of him being a scapegoat became much appealing.

Heh, maybe this is the time.

Shirou abruptly stopped. Without hesitation, he turned his back to face the noisy footsteps of the invaders.

"Indeed, people! I am the culprit! I destroyed the Relic of Cielo!"

All the invaders stopped. As if the wind halted, the silence veiled the atmosphere. Be it the cavalries of the Marshals of Lights, or the citizens who desperately grabbed their magically-enchanedweapons. They looked at each other, in confusion, doubt, and anger.

"You did destroy it?" asked one man with blond hair, half covered in his hood.

"Yes."

"You yourself?"

Before Shirou could answer, another yell came from a man with black hair, the one whom Shirou met last night.

"That man is the mastermind!"

A knight also yelled as well. "Yes! He's the mastermind! He must be the one who destroyed it!"

And another. And another. And another.

All the men in hoods stared at each other. After an unspoken agreement, one of them pointed at Shirou.

"Blacksmith Hero, YOU ARE GUILTY!"

"Hang him!"

"Execute him!"

"Kill him!"

All the curses started to pile up. They came both from the hooded men, and from the citizens. Those men rose up their swords and charged towards that one man.

Charged towards the person who saved them one year ago, at the very same place.

Here he was, standing in the pool of his blood. Numerous swords were stuck on his body. His breath was short. At such state, he wouldn't be able to heal anymore.

Around him was the pile of men, screaming and cursing his name. They declared victory over one single man. They told him off.

But that's okay, he thought. He did, after all, bring another peace between the two enemies. His life was worth for that. He was made for that.

And most of all, even if he was betrayed by the very people he saved, even if he had no one else in this world, something would always be by his side.

His ideals. His dreams. He would continue saving people.

Hey World, I'm coming now. You better fulfill the oath.

Slowly, he closed his eyes. Embracing his ideal of a hero, he slumped down on the ground. Dead.