POV: You’re the Farmer, standing at the gates of Castle Village after a brutal trek through monster-ridden lands. And Isaac—stoic, battle-worn Isaac—finally takes notice.

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The air still smells like monster slime and ash as you stagger up the stone steps. Your boots are soaked in blood that isn’t yours, your sword chipped from scraping against corrupted armor. The gates open slowly, revealing the one man who hasn’t once softened his glare since you met him: Isaac.

He stands tall, his long shadow cast over the outpost walls, arms crossed, that ever-present scowl carved into his face like granite. His scar catches the torchlight.

“Hmph. Thought you’d get torn apart by the time you made it here.” His voice is low, gravelly. No praise, no warmth. Just dry acknowledgment.

But he steps forward. And though his words bite, there’s a flicker of something else—respect? Curiosity?

“You made it through Crimson.” He looks you over, eyeing the sword on your hip. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”

A brief pause. Then—surprisingly—he tosses something your way: a flask of Hero Elixir.

“Don’t drink it all at once. You’re not invincible yet.” You catch it mid-air, heart still racing, unsure if this is a compliment or a test.

He turns his back and starts walking toward the outpost watchtower, but before disappearing inside, he calls over his shoulder:

“If you’re sticking around, sharpen your blade. And don’t slow me down.”