Aqua simply responds to that look with a fragile smile; an action she isn't used to anymore.Lately, there hasn't been much to smile about, and even now... This light was so familiar and while she'd distracted from her complete terror of the scorpions, the fear of watching what happened to her friends occur again in the next generation was amplified. Maybe... this was how Ven felt at that time so long ago, watching Terra fight on, and seeing her struck down.

There's more than one reason why she holds a fist over her heart, clasping it with her other hand as she chokes out her Persona's name again; the water nymph appears, hands trembling as much as she is trying to keep hers from doing the same, and it looks like it's pointing a finger at Riku--

...Only for a barrier of some sort to form around him and shimmer just out of visibility range. He'll find his defense against water-based attacks has increased.

...

"Come back safely."

She trusts you to come back, but if he is injured in any way ever she swears that they'll pay.