Kyle Halling

Kyle is a young, blue-eyed child of Youswell, small enough to be pushed around by grown men yet always underfoot around the mines and the family tavern. His name has drifted across translations, printed as Khayal and later Kayal in various VIZ, Chuang Yi and WEBTOON editions, with the surname Halling attached mainly through the Trading Card Game.

He takes after his father, well liked around town and quick to pitch in with the miners despite his age. He also inherits the family scorn for the State Military and its alchemists, reserving most of his loathing for Lieutenant Yoki. Brash and blunt, he tags rich visitors as "piggy banks" when he steers them toward the tavern and lashes out when Yoki announces yet another pay cut. Under the temper, though, is a kind streak that later leaves a real impression on the people he meets.

Edward's timely intervention spares Kyle a beating from Yoki's men, though the boy's gratitude sours when Ed goes off to lodge at the lieutenant's mansion. After Yoki torches Mr. Halling's tavern, Kyle is among those itching for revenge and is held back by his father, and he pleads with Ed to conjure gold with alchemy. Ed refuses, knowing the money would only flow back into Yoki's pockets, but restores the boy's faith by returning with the deed and "selling" it to Mr. Halling for a single night's lodging. He returns to the story when May Chang staggers into Youswell after crossing the desert; Kyle finds her collapsed, feeds her, and is mid-conversation when Mine #8, where his father works, caves in. Panicking and needing to be restrained, he watches May seal the collapse with Xingese alkahestry, and the grateful town throws a party where their glowing praise of Edward sends May off smitten, the townsfolk forgetting to mention how short he is. Kyle crosses paths with her once more as she heads back toward Xing with Envy, and his easy kindness helps convince her to stay in Amestris to protect gentle people like him from the Homunculi.