"And there is honestly no alternative to this plan?" Bridgette exclaimed once Strauss had finished his explanation on the events to come.

"As much I would like to guarantee my success in the coming battles, I cannot ignore the high possibility of my death in the battle against the Black Swan. You've seen the results of our previous battles, she is much stronger than me and will most likely win in our final showdown."

Despite the melancholic topic Strauss showed little to no emotion, staring blankly at the moon and the harbingers of war hidden behind it. He had said his plans to Bridgette and Adelheid, but no matter how many times he had said the predicted outcome, neither could accept it. Even he himself struggled to come to terms with the fact that in a days time he would have to leave this earth and the troubles of his race would be left at the hands of his daughters.

"I also think we should look into alternate means of ending this conflict." Adelheid stood, taking the spotlight despite her inclusive trait. "There are still ways that we can save Kayuki AND keep you alive Strauss. Saberhagen may have been a genius in terms of curses and seals, but she did not create the Black Swan, she merely called it out. If this is the truth, then can we not say there are traits and abilities even SHE does not know the Black Swan has?"

Strauss shook his head at Adelheid's proposition, "As much as I'd like to believe such a thing exists, you must remember that it was Saberhagen that drew out the Black Swan. If there WAS such a way to resolve the situation without bloodshed, leaving both me and the host alive, she would have counteracted it."

"But you must also see that Saberhagen was a mother, and like any mother, they would not seal away their daughters completely." Strauss flinched at Adelheid's words, only momentarily losing his mind to the possibility, but he was quick in regaining his composure.

"Again, as much as I'd like to believe the possibility, it is simply non-existent. We will continue tomorrow as planned and leave the outcome of the coming battle to the will of that girl." Standing up Strauss signaled the end of their conversation, closing the door behind him without making a sound. Adelheid looked longingly at the door, hoping Strauss would burst through it with tears in his eyes begging for a chance to save her and Kayuki, but she knew this possibility had ended once Strauss had been put in the shoes of the main character. Sighing, Adelheid rose from her seat and looked to Bridgette to see her still sitting in her chair, her head in her hand, deep in thought.

"There are still possibilities. Saberhagen was a mysterious person, however she was not void of feelings. Even the emotionless monster that Strauss has become has his holes in his mask. If that can be called a consistent trait, then we can also assume that Saberhagen herself had a break in her mask as well. Which would mean that somewhere she has hidden the final secret of the Black Swan." Standing up to look out the window, Bridgette continued to mull over the idea. Taking this as her queue to leave, Adelheid began to make her way to the door, but before she could fully open the door Bridgette called out to her.

"Sister, I have a favor to ask of you."

"What would you have of me, older sister?"

"I need to you take me to the last place Saberhagen had lived in."

"I'm sorry but I don't have that information."

"But I do…"

Strauss stood on the balcony of the launch station, looking at the moon longingly. There hanging in the sky was the last hope for his race, the last hope of them ever being able to continue their existence without conflict with the humans. Even so, he could not help but feel a fleeting sense of sorrow. Tomorrow he would see yet another wife die and he could do little to avoid it, on top of that his own life would come to an end and he would abandon his race to the flow of the universe. Strauss shook his head. He could not fall to these feelings; they were of the moment and are meaningless in the battles to come. He had to face the next day without a doubt in his heart; else he would regret it for the rest of eternity. Leaving the balcony, Strauss retreated to his room, letting sleep conquer his body in hopes that the extra hours would bring his body to its peak.

As the moon climbed in the sky, Strauss exited his room, fully dressed and geared for the coming battles. As he made his way to the roof he met up with Adelheid, who had also dawned a suit of armor, completed with a black cape similar to Strauss'.

"Are you ready?"

"I've waited all my life for this, this chance to make a difference in the flow of the world. Also, this will be my last moment with you. I want to look my best so that I have the image of a beautiful, kind woman in your heart."

Strauss chuckled, "You will always be a beautiful, kind woman in my heart; you've been one since the beginning."

Blushing Adelheid held out her hand, wrapping her fingers around Strauss'

"Since this is the final time I'll be able to stand by your side, please forgive me if I get a little selfish." Adelheid whispered, lowering her head out of embarrassment.

"Be as selfish as you wish to be, my queen." Strauss whispered back, tightening his grip on her hand.

One more moment of silence between the two and they were off into the sky disappearing from the human eye. Not moments later a large explosion erupted in the sky, signaling that Strauss and Adelheid had been successful in their endeavor.

Strauss stood looking back at the earth, his cape cold still in the air-less space. Smiling at the beauty of the world, he turned to face Adelheid. Her cape had been damaged when she had released her corrosion powers, but her body itself had suffered nothing of the sort. It was a testament to the power pureblooded vampires held.

"I guess this is it, huh?"

"Yes, with this our race can live on in hope without need for fear of conflicts." Even as he said these hopeful things, Strauss could not help but furrow his brow in thought. What if this was the wrong decision? What if there WAS a way to save everyone and eliminate all need for sacrifice?

"Akabara…"

"What is wrong?"

"Go…I do not wish for you to see me when I begin to die, I won't be able to leave my beautiful image in your heart if you see me in my final moments."

"I said it before 'you will always be beautiful to me, because that's how you always been'"

"Then, if you had never met Stella, would you have fallen in love with me?" Adelheid said turning to him, tears in her eyes.

Strauss hesitated for a moment, before smiling, "If that had been the world we lived in, then yes, I would have gladly fallen in love with you." Adelheid turned away from him, a single tear dropping from her cheek. Strauss didn't say a word; he simply turned away and flew back to earth. As he flew back a large explosion erupted on the face of the moon and at that moment he knew, Adelheid had died.