As Amon's gaze locked with Valen's, a tension thickened the air, palpable and suffocating. Valen's towering figure loomed over Anna, who trembled under his scrutinizing gaze. Amon felt a surge of determination coursing through him, ready to confront the looming threat before him.
Valen's voice cut through the silence, his tone dripping with contempt as he addressed Anna. "Twenty points for the health potion," he demanded, his words like venomous daggers. Anna's eyes welled with tears as she stuttered, admitting she didn't have the points.
Amon's blood boiled with indignation at Valen's callous demand. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, a defiant glint in his eyes. "I'll cover it," he declared, his voice firm and unwavering. Valen's cronies sneered, their disdain evident as they taunted Amon, threatening to double the price for Anna's tardiness.
Though every fiber of his being urged him to lash out, Amon clenched his jaw, his fists trembling with restrained fury. He couldn't risk endangering the innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. With a begrudging nod, he acquiesced, transferring the required points to Valen.
As Valen turned to leave, a lingering question hung in the air. "Who are you?" he inquired, his gaze piercing. Anna, her voice quivering, hastily interjected, fabricating a tale to shield Amon's identity. Valen's lips curved into a sardonic smile, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. "Your service is greatly appreciated," he remarked before striding away, leaving Amon to grapple with the unsettling encounter.
As Valen's retreating figure disappeared from sight, Anna turned to Amon, her eyes wide with confusion and uncertainty. "What are we going to do?" she asked, her voice trembling with apprehension.
Amon met her gaze, his expression resolute yet tinged with a hint of grim determination. "We take them down, one by one," he replied, his voice low and determined. "Valen travels with seven men. We dismantle his operation piece by piece, weaken his hold on this place, and when he least expects it, we strike."
Anna's brow furrowed in confusion, but a glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes as she grasped onto Amon's plan. Though the path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, she found solace in the knowledge that she wasn't alone in this fight.
With a silent nod of agreement, Anna and Amon set their sights on the daunting task ahead. The journey to topple Valen's reign of tyranny had only just begun, but with each step forward, they grew ever closer to reclaiming their freedom and restoring peace to the shattered remnants of their world.