Achlys cried out and struggled against Thresh's grip.

"Fah!" she exclaimed with excitement.

Karthus floated over the cracked stone towards the ancient vaults. Around him, the Mist was rolling back in, bringing the newly dead with it.

"Down," Achlys commanded as she reached out towards her father.

"Not yet," Thresh scolded, "we don't want you to trip on the stairs and smash your delicate little face, do we?"

"No," she responded, but still continued to squirm in anticipation.

The minutes ticked by torturously slowly. Achlys eyes followed the glow of her father's staff as it wound its way through the ruined city. For a moment she tried to pull him to her with her newfound magic. Stretch as she might, she was never able to get the tendrils of magic to reach out more than a few inches from her fingertips. She gave a grunt of discontent and let herself hang limply in Thresh's hands.

At last, Achlys could see her father's face. Immediately, her strength was renewed. She reached out her arms towards him as her feet tried to run in the air.

"Fah! Fah! Want go!" she chirped.

Thresh waited until Karthus had cleared the last of the stairs before releasing Achlys. She off like a shot, running full force towards him with arms outstretched. Karthus bent down and scooped her up in his arms. Achlys pressed her cheek into his shoulder and gripped tightly to his robes still damp from the sea's mist.

"Fah, Fah, Fah," she chanted as she held him.

"Yes Achlys," Karthus cooed as he brushed her silvery hair from her face, "I missed you as well."

"No go?"

"Not for a long time."

Achlys let out a sigh of relief. Finally, she felt safe.

"I have much to show you when we return," Karthus promised, "you will see that the benefits of the Harrowing was worth our time apart."

With Achlys blissfully back, Karthus turned his attention to Thresh. The other specter stood on the far side of the courtyard. An aura of smugness clung to his relaxed posture and expression, perpetually a malicious grin.

"You weren't going to leave without saying 'thank you,' were you, Karthus?" Thresh asked.

"Of course not," Karthus responded, "I want her to have manners, even towards someone like you."

"Well, I'm waiting," Thresh spoke as he approached the pair, "I did more than uphold my promise. Not only did I keep her safe from harm, but I also provided enrichment, and she even enjoyed herself. Isn't that right, Achlys?"

As upset that Achlys was that the terrifying specter was once again encroaching on her space, she wasn't going to lie.

"Yeh-yea," she stammered before turning away.

If she couldn't see him, she wouldn't be afraid.

"She doesn't look like she's enjoying herself," Karthus commented.

"You should have seen her earlier. She could hardly contain her glee."

"I find that doubtful."

"Oh? Do you believe me to be dishonest, Karthus?"

"No," Karthus said with a huff, "you have always preferred the painful truth."

"Does the idea of Achlys possibly enjoying time with me cause you distress?"

"No," Karthus lied, "why would it?"

Thresh shrugged.

"I know you disapprove of my particular skills," Thresh answered, "I assume that you are simply concerned that she will grow to have similar tastes."

"It is fortunate then that she will learn of a soul's sanctity from me."

"Hmm, well I won't interfere with you imposing your high and mighty morals on her little mind. But, if she ever needs tending to again, I would be delighted to assist."

Karthus scowled at Thresh's enthusiasm. Thresh reached out and gave Achlys, much to her displeasure, a rough tousle of her hair before Karthus swatted away his hand.

"I think she's had enough," Karthus said as he softly brushed her hair back into place, "we thank you for your assistance but hope it won't be necessary for a long time to come."

"Until then," Thresh said with a nod, "good-bye Achlys."

Achlys didn't respond, despite being very well practiced in saying 'buh-bye' to Elise.

"Causing discomfort is a game for him," Karthus whispered to her when they were out of earshot, "refuse to play along. But let us not dwell on him any longer. You have been very brave and I want you to relax now."

Achlys nodded but remained silent for the rest of their trip back to the cathedral. All she wanted right now was to hold onto her Father, and Karthus was more than happy to hold her back. Soon she was asleep. At the cathedral at last, Karthus gave her a gentle pat on the back.

"We are home."

Letting out an enormous yawn, Achlys stretched her arms out as far above her head as she could reach. Several nearby wraiths rushed over, seemingly relieved by her return. Achlys took in the familiar surroundings with a contented smile, but her gaze stopped on a mismatched pile of things before the altar.

"Wah dat?" she asked as she pointed a stubby finger at the objects of her inquiry.

"Those," Karthus answered, "are for you to help you grow."

He brought her to the pile and showed off his spoils. There were new foods for her to try, like oranges, dried bits of fish, or jars of pickled goods. A sea chest, only slightly damaged, would safely hold all her clothing. New blankets and pillows would bring much needed refreshment to her lifeboat bed. A hairbrush, sewing kit, and cooking pot would serve her well. And to entertain her, he brought back a toy ship, a small carving of a scuttle crab, and an illustrated book titled Tales of the Tidal Trickster.

Achlys reached out and grabbed at a pile of still damp cloth. The fabric was a thick cloak made from wool that had been dyed a dark color. The scent of the ocean clung heavily to it, so it would have been easy to imagine it having belonged lighthouse tender or harbor master. Now however, it was in the very small hands of a baby who was reveling in the feel of the fabric under her fingers.

"You will grow into it," Karthus assured her.

He placed her on the ground and laid the cloak across her lap. Achlys let out a happy coo as she continued to examine this new thing. She examined every inch that her hands could reach, from the sand dried along its edges, to the clasp carved from a sea serpent's tooth. With upmost scientific care, she even took a corner of the garment and sucked on it for a moment. Yup, definitely fabric.

Satisfied that she could entertain herself for a moment, Karthus called his wraiths to him and began directing them on where the goods were to be taken. When he turned back around, he didn't see Achlys but instead saw a lump underneath the cloak. The lump was giggling.

"Now where has Achlys gone," Karthus asked aloud, "she was here a moment ago."

More giggling came from the lump.

"She could not have gone far, and I think I hear her."

Karthus feigned a search. Her bumped the pews and scrapped his staff over the floor to make his search sound more convincing. After a minute of the play, he returned to the cloak.

"What is this lump?"

He reached down and pulled the cloak back. Achlys laughed and smiled at her reveal. But it was not Achlys that Karthus saw in that moment. For an instant in his mind, he was back in the Harrowing. The girl below the curtain was looking up at him with fear filled eyes. She was still in his thoughts. Why couldn't he liberate her?

"Fah!" came Achlys's voice, snapping him back to the present, "Uppy?"

"Yes," he responded, "of course."

He scooped her up and hugged her tightly. For her, everything he had done that night had been for her. He would tell himself that as many times as he needed to hear it.

"Come now, Achlys, let's go set up your room."

The pair descended into the cathedral's basement where Achlys's room was. In the year since she had first arrived, the little storage room had undergone a complete change. Gone were all the cobwebs and rubble, and in their place were enchanted sconces that glowed with balefire and tapestries gifted by Elise. Woven into them were scenes of a pastoral Noxus thriving under the Empire's Noxtorra. A sheepskin had been placed inside her bed alongside Grim. The newly acquired sea chest sat in the corner of the room and opposite it was a tiny bookshelf housing the few books Karthus had written for Achlys. Though far from an ideal nursery, Karthus and Elise had done everything they could to make it as cozy for the baby as possible.

Karthus set Achlys down in her boat bed and began to busy himself with cleaning. New toys were put in a crate by the rug, books went to the bookshelf, and clothing and blankets were folded and placed into the chest. Achlys pulled herself up and peered over the edge of the boat. She was still stressed from her trying experience with Thresh and wasn't ready to for bed just yet.

"Uppy?" she asked, reaching out for him.

"Later, Achlys. Right now I still have much to do."

Achlys nodded understandingly. Patiently, she waited two whole minutes before asking again.

"Uppy?"

"Later. Play with Grim for now."

She turned back and saw Grimm resting on her pillow. She loved Grim of course, but he wasn't what she wanted right now. Even still, she played with the toy, occupying her time for another several minutes. But when her patience ran out, she was again peering over the side of the boat. She stretched out her hand and summoned magic to it. Reaching with all her will, the aura of magic began to grow past the tips of her fingers. Unlike the last time she attempted this, the flames of magic didn't stay small. Now they began to merge at their tips, becoming one long, thread-like spindle.

"Uppy?" she asked again as she sent the spindle across the room.

"Achlys, please, this is the-"

Karthus stopped mid-sentence. He felt a tugging on the edge of his robe, like he was being pulled by a fishing line.

"How did you get out of bed?"

He turned to pick her up but found that she wasn't there. Instead, the spindle of bright blue magic was hooked into his robe and led all the way back Achlys still in her bed. She waved at him.

"Now," Karthus wondered, "where did you learn to do that? No, I think I know already. Thresh taught you didn't he?"

"Yea."

"Of course he did. He has no consideration for the curriculum I had already established for you."

"Yea."

"Very well, Achlys, you have my attention again, but only because I want you to show me everything Thresh taught you. I need to plan how to teach you to use this new magic responsibly."

"Uppy?"

"Yes."

He reached down and picked up his daughter. As soon as he lifted her, the spell she had cast vanished.

"We can cuddle, but only while you show me what you learned. Are these acceptable terms?"

"Yea."

"That's my good girl."

Karthus reclined into a chair and watched intently as Achlys attempted magic. Folding blankets could wait.