Mr. Halling

Halling is a blue-eyed Amestrian man of Youswell, drawn as the sturdy, approachable sort one expects of a lifelong miner. His neighbors read him as friendly and warm-hearted, the kind of man who will gladly swallow a loss to help a struggling friend.

His even temper and clear head are exactly why the miners picked him to speak on their behalf, however hopeless their haggling with the landowner proves. He is generous to a fault, yet also protective and principled: when Yoki torches his tavern, he restrains Kyle and the others from striking back, unwilling to see them branded criminals and hand their oppressor a fresh excuse. His trust in State Alchemists is fragile, curdling into cold hostility the moment he learns a guest wears the title.

Crushed by Yoki's punishing property taxes, Halling runs a tavern with his wife and son Kyle, gouging travelers a preposterous nightly rate to keep pace with the lieutenant's demands. He takes an instant liking to Edward and Alphonse Elric when they arrive to survey the mines, until Edward's State Alchemist status turns the whole town frosty toward him. The standoff resolves when Edward cheats Yoki out of the town's deed and sells Youswell back to Halling for the price of a single night's lodging, breaking the lieutenant's grip and restoring the innkeeper's faith in the military's alchemists.

He surfaces again when May Chang reaches Youswell from Xing. Moments after she meets Kyle, Mine No. 8 caves in and traps Halling and other workers, and she mends the shaft in a flash with alkahestry. Grateful, the town throws one of its rowdy celebrations, during which Halling recounts the tale of the Elrics; the story so captivates May that she rushes off before anyone thinks to mention how short Edward actually is.