The gangplank swarms with passengers and their belongings, awash with buoyant chatter and seaworthy shouts as everyone readies for the voyage. It's a steam ship, one of Ionia's first, of Piltovian design but built from the keel up in this very harbor.
Riven's bound for Piltover, and from there she'll take one of their airships straight to Noxus. It feels like a final mile, the last demon of her past to defeat before – before what? The rest of her life, that's what Karma tells her.
She's halfway up the gangplank before she does what she swore she wouldn't do. Turning against the tide, she dances and weaves through the crowd, down to where Karma's standing on the wharf with a half smile and a look that says she's not surprised.
It does surprise her when, out of breath and in full view of the passerby, Riven takes her by the chin and tips her face up into a hasty kiss. Karma's arms go to her shoulders, but it's not to push her away; when Riven tries to pull back she ends up getting crushed to Karma in a fierce embrace.
"Hey," she says into Karma's neck, "I'm not leaving forever."
Somewhere above her ear, in her hair, she hears the words, "I know." People have got to be staring by now. She doesn't know if she cares.
"Thank you." She breathes the words as she lifts her head and Karma lets her slip a step backwards. There's vivid fire in Karma's eyes and it feels like the quiet woman is appraising her, digging into every crack and prying up loose joint that is Riven's lifetime of mistakes and failures. Even now, Riven shivers.
Karma places her palms on both sides of Riven's face and pulls her down to brush her lips to her forehead. It's a benediction, a blessing, a sign that for all her faults she's still worthy of Karma's respect. It's a confirmation of so much more than either could ever put to words.
Luckily, they don't have to.
Riven's sure her face is redder than it ought to be – there's kissing in public and then there's a kiss in public – but Karma squeezes her hand and adjusts the strap of her bag for her and the horn of the great ship reminds her that there's somewhere she's got to be.
"Go on," Karma urges. "Be safe and come home to me when you're ready."
Riven nods, letting the last-minute rush of traffic carry her out of arm's reach. Wordless joy fills her at the thought of conquering this final demon and coming back a hero for once. Coming back home. She sticks her arm into the air and shouts above the crowd, "Keep the kettle on for me!"