Disclaimer – Though doing pretty well for myself for being only a year-and-a-half out of college, ownership of Tales of Vesperia is not something I can claim as mine.

Outfit – True Knight

Reflection

Yuri always felt a bit like a fraud when he wore the armor.

Technically the armor was a gift from Ioder, but the one who'd given it to him was Flynn and the one who smuggled it into his things when he wasn't paying attention was Estelle. Yuri told himself that was completely Judith's influence on her and not his in the least. He'd almost managed to convince himself, too.

When Yuri finally realized what it was that was weighing down his pack, he couldn't quite bring himself to throw it out. When they got to the Inn that evening, he'd even tried it on in the privacy of his room. The red, gold, and grays looked flattering on him and when he'd tied up his hair, Yuri had felt like he was looking at someone else entirely.

This someone was attractive, honorable, and just. This someone could stand at Flynn's side and not worry about tainting the blond with the blood on his hands. This someone was worthy of being thought of as a hero... and this someone couldn't possibly be Yuri Lowell of the lower quarter.

Still unwilling to simply throw out the armor, Yuri had quietly packed it away at the bottom of his bag and did his best to forget it was there.

After the Adephagos was defeated, however, Yuri had to face the consequences of the murders he'd committed. Unfortunately, the consequences were nothing like what Yuri had expected. Instead of having Flynn arrest him when he returned to Aurnion, Ioder came out to greet them with Flynn, Natz, Harry, and Kaufman all standing at his side. After congratulating them on their success, Yuri had been taken aside by Ioder and the three guild leaders and they informed him of the nexus of politics his fate had become entangled within.

Having committed two murders, Yuri was wanted for trial and imprisonment by the Empire. That much, Yuri had expected. However, there was a strong movement within the council to pardon Yuri's crimes – a movement with Ioder sided with – in light of Yuri's actions in rescuing Estelle, helping to defeat Alexei, and destroying the Adephagos. The movement was currently not quite strong enough to ensure Yuri's pardon would pass on those merits alone, but there were other political pressures at work.

In order for the peace between the Empire and the Guilds to work, the Empire required at least one official representative of the Guilds to be present in Aurnion and able to travel to Zaphias as needed. Since Brave Vesperia was respected by Pallestralle largely due to the events surrounding Belius' death and their actions in protecting the city from the smaller Adephagos that attacked, Pallestralle wanted the representative to be a member of that guild, meaning Yuri, Karol, or Judith. The other members of their guild were unofficial and didn't exactly qualify, though of the three Natz believed Yuri to be the best qualified.

Kaufman agreed that Brave Vesperia would be the preferable choice and Yuri was also her specific pick of the three. She wanted it made clear to the council that Brave Vesperia was considered to be a guild allied with her own and that any legal actions taken against members of ally guilds would be scrutinized closely.

Harry explained that Yuri's actions as the Don's second had earned him the respect of all of Altosk, as well as most Union-affiliated guilds. Because Yuri had been willing to stand up when everyone else hesitated, there wasn't a single person in Dahngrest who didn't know his name. If Yuri was arrested for murder, then Ragou and Cumore's actions would be made public by the guilds. It was doubtful any guildsmen would disapprove of Yuri's actions, given the circumstances. If Yuri were to be executed, the guilds would look less favorably of overtures of equality or peace from the Empire.

Yuri, of course, had a few choice words about what he was hearing. Kaufman offered him lessons from a few sailors she knew, that way he could be really foulmouthed the next time he got that upset. She also laughed when he glared at her.

So Yuri was pardoned, but he was also stuck in the role of representative. Raven was eventually appointed as a secondary representative, but it was Yuri who was expected to do most of the work while Raven was there more to advise him.

He could still do guild work, but he couldn't roam too far.

There were also court functions that, since Yuri was practically an ambassador, he was required to attend. The armor, once buried at the bottom of the bag, was brought out again. He had to wear it with a smile and feign confidence that, wearing the armor, he did not feel.

Flynn would watch Yuri on those nights, worry obvious in his blue eyes.

Yet... it was getting easier to wear the armor lately. It was getting easier to look in a mirror and see that maybe he was more than just a murderer.

"It's not that the armor makes you look different, Yuri. It's that, with the armor on, you see a different side of yourself. I know that makes you uncomfortable; you don't like people treating you like you're special or some kind of hero."

"I'm not a hero, Flynn!"

"But you are. Heroes are just ordinary people who do extraordinary things, Yuri. I'd certainly say that fits you."

"There are others who'd have done the same..."

"No. No, they wouldn't have. Sometimes it's so difficult to understand you. You'd think it would be easier for me, since we've known each other for so long. But sometimes... sometimes it seems like I've had an easier time learning to understand and accept Lady Estellise's decisions than yours. I want so much for you... for you to get the credit and praise you deserve. I want people to see you like I do... to care about you as much as I do.

"I get it now, though, that having others see you that way isn't really important. What I need is for you to see yourself like I do. You have this need to protect people, but sometimes it leads you to do things that terrify me, like when you killed Ragou and Cumore. Doing that... you scared yourself too, I think. Only it's that you're afraid to see that you don't just kill to protect. You go to all kinds of trouble to help others... like rescuing children from dungeons and monsters or convincing Duke not to give up on humanity just yet.

"I can't always agree with your way of handling things. But I can always respect your motivations because that need to help and protect... that part of you is beautiful Yuri, and that part is also what defines you. Maybe one day, you'll even be able to see that side of yourself in the mirror and recognize it's still you."

Right now, Yuri still couldn't quite accept what he saw in himself when he wore that armor. But when Flynn stood beside him, he felt like maybe Flynn was right. Maybe one day, he'd recognize his own reflection.