Alice Elliot

The relationship between Alice and Yuri is one of the most important aspects of Shadow Hearts and Yuri's character. In fact, it would be difficult to discuss his motivation without mentioning her. I admit I wasn't impressed with them at first. It seemed so cliche to pair the rude anti-hero with the innocent healer nun. But in a lot of ways it is that same archetype that makes them entertaining.

In Shadow Hearts Yuri found his reason for living in protecting Alice. In Covenant he found it again because he failed to. She is his motivator in both life and death. Throughout the first game his sense of righteousness, and later his love for her, leads him to stand by her side and watch over her. In many ways, Alice is the source of his strength. He must be strong to save her and it is the loss of her in the second game that hinders him the most.

But it quickly becomes apparent that Yuri isn't the only one doing the saving. Alice is let into Yuri's Graveyard, where his deepest secrets are, and learns his fears and weaknesses. Naive, maybe, but she isn't oblivious. She can see the kindness inside him, as well as the doubts and uncertainty. It is Alice, after all, who helps him rise from the ashes left behind by his fusion with the Seraphic Radiance. She helps him overcome, but maybe more importantly, she helps him admit and accept his feelings of fear, loneliness, and regret.

Yuri is not weak! There's still hope and courage left in him! He's a fighter!

However, Alice's help comes at a price. Yuri's soul has been cursed by his fusion powers, always doomed to be stolen by Atman, and she offers her own soul up as a replacement. Covenant continues the story from this scenario; Alice is dead and Yuri finds himself listless without her.

It isn't until he can meet her again that Yuri truly finds what he had been looking for throughout the course of the second game. He is given the chance to relieve his deepest regret and from that point on walks toward his destiny without hesitation. It is when he and Roger attempt to resurrect Alice that Yuri can finally close the door on his loss. Though Alice remains dead, in a fleeting moment of life she confesses her love for him and he returns her feelings. Yuri was saying goodbye in many ways.

They meet again briefly in the Graveyard in Yuri's soul, in a recreation of a train they rode together. Alice is his confidant and supporter again. He leaves her willingly with the promise of coming back after he's fulfilled his purpose: defeat Kato and save the world Alice loved so much while looking forward to a future he makes himself.