Hiell Halowell

Hiell was born to wealthy parents in Soria City, owners of a successful security company. Through his childhood, as an only child, he was constantly told of the empire he would one day inherit, most of which he ignored, citing having no interest. Still, he was raised strictly, without schooling, and was immersed in preparation for his inevitable inheritance. He spent much time outside on the streets of urban Soria City, spending as much time as possible away from the corporate world.

As Hiell grew, he practised selectively paying attention in an effort to reject his inheritance, insisting he'd rather be poor and homeless; however, as adulthood approached and money became a necessity, he relented and began working within his parents' conglomerate, insisting on a low-ranking position. Regardless, he was often forced to climb the ranks, and, with it, gain responsibility after responsibility, which he intentionally ignored.

At age 23 in 611 DD, a series of earthquakes tore through Soria City, causing the collapse of the skyscraper of an office building he worked in; being near the top floor, he was crushed among the rubble, tearing off his left (and dominant) arm and leg. He passed away in the rubble, before ever being found.

Hiell emerged into the Afterworld in a room between Cinder City and the room with passage between the third and fourth tier. He remained where he was, lamenting the loss of his limbs briefly, and learning to adapt to having half a body. In 728 DD, over a century after his death, he migrated to Cinder City after growing restless.

Within Cinder City, Hiell met Kato Athomelo, becoming fast friends, and settled down for the following years. During their time in Cinder City, they would playfully write messages or draw on walls for the sake of being mischievous; these messages were often replied to by anonymous others. Over decades, they continued their game of messages back and forth, occasionally having their messages erased or find a more aggressive reply. Irritated, Hiell began a habit of waiting for days at a time for the perpetrators to approach, then throw rocks if he saw his work being undone, the same treatment eventually being delivered to him. Tensions between the two sides escalated, slowly but surely, until tagging "territory" became their new game.

As tension grew, so did aggression, their playfulness turning into a mission; with something to be determined to do for the first time in his life or death, Hiell began setting traps, often hurting innocent bystanders or causing bodily harm; however, filled with self-righteousness, Hiell saw nothing wrong with his methods. By 810 DD, Hiell and Kato had begun outright attacking those who would damage their work, citing that the other side would do the same.

In 814 DD, Hiell commissioned a "replica" musket from a local craftsman, gathering all the materials to assemble a functional weapon out of it. Upon its first use by Kato, targeting someone in the process of tagging over his own mark, the projectile veered far from its target, instead tearing through the netting and letting the brambles above Cinder City in. The two fled to shelter, realizing the gravity of their mistake, and hid as the people of Cinder City began a mass exodus out, seeking a higher, safer tier.

Over the coming years, Hiell and Kato repaired the net and cleared the bramble from the streets of Cinder City in an attempt to atone for their sins; joined by other Sorian boys, they worked tirelessly until the arrival and return of the Alhanian girls, and thus beginning the war for Cinder City.

Hiell carves throwing knives in his spare time, and isn't hesitant to use them when he needs to. As a last resort, he hides a small switchblade in his scarf; a memento that came with him through to the Afterworld.