Garfiel Tinsel, half-brother to Frederica Baumann, is a quarter-beast human born to a half-beast father and human mother, Reshia Thompson. Following early childhood wanderings, Roswaal L. Mathers provided sanctuary for the family at the Sanctuary. Reshia later departed to find her missing husband and never returned; Frederica left when Garfiel was four, leaving him under the care of the Ryuzu clones. He remained isolated within the Sanctuary for nearly ten years, developing a crippling fear of the outside world after a traumatic experience during the Trials of Echidna's Tomb. His first Trial showed a vision of his mother's death in a landslide, causing him to panic and repeatedly bash his head against a wall, leaving a permanent X-shaped scar on his forehead. This solidified his resolve to become the Sanctuary's self-proclaimed "Strongest Shield." Physically, Garfiel is relatively short and muscular, sporting spiky golden hair, sharp feline fangs, and intense emerald eyes. His scar is prominent. His typical attire consists of lightweight combat gear: a black vest with fuchsia accents, a torn heliotrope-purple loincloth, black pants, arm guards, and dual shields. After Arc 4, he adopted a neater haircut while retaining his rugged look. Initially introduced as an antagonist, Garfiel displayed aggressive, rebellious behavior, distrusting outsiders like Subaru Natsuki due to Roswaal's manipulations and Subaru's scent of the Witch. He frequently used idiosyncratic proverbs, a habit developed from reading adventure stories to impress Ram. Beneath his brash exterior, he possessed a protective nature towards Sanctuary residents, women, and children. His trauma fueled a chuunibyou-like persona, declaring himself the Sanctuary's guardian while hiding deep-seated insecurities about abandonment and weakness. Garfiel's character development pivoted in Arc 4. After violent confrontations and defeat by Subaru, he was persuaded to retake the Trials. Revisiting his mother's fate revealed she left to find his father and desired her children's happiness, not abandonment. Overcoming this trauma with Subaru's support, he joined the Emilia Camp, adopting Subaru as his "Captain" and Otto Suwen as "Big Bro Otto," forming the trio nicknamed the "Three Idiots." His loyalty to the camp became unwavering, though he retained a teasing, occasionally combative demeanor. His abilities derive from his beast-human heritage and Divine Protection of the Earth Spirit. This blessing grants enhanced strength, accelerated healing while grounded, and minor geomancy. He wields dual shields in combat, favoring instinct-driven brawling over technical skill. His healing magic is notably advanced, rated "10" on a scale where Felix Argyle is "50." He can partially or fully transform into a golden tiger, though full beastification risks loss of rationality, making it a last resort. Garfiel has fought opponents like Elsa Granhiert and Kurgan, though losses to Reinhard van Astrea and the haunting aftermath of his first kill (Elsa) exacerbated his obsession with strength. He temporarily suffered hallucinations of Elsa as a manifestation of guilt, overcome through camaraderie and later reuniting with his amnesiac mother. Relationships define much of his growth. He shares a strained but caring bond with Frederica, reunited after ten years. His unrequited crush on Ram motivates his efforts to appear strong, though he acknowledges her devotion to Roswaal. He respects warriors and dragons, expressing awe toward Volcanica and Mezoreia. Post-Arc 4, he traveled extensively with the Emilia Camp, aiding Priestella's reconstruction where he discovered ancient texts matching Subaru's native language. In Arc 7, he resolved to "save" adversaries like Madelyn Eschart, reflecting Subaru's influence. Garfiel's story extends through Arcs 5–9. He assisted in thwarting the Witch Cult in Priestella, helped retrieve Witch remains, and ventured into Vollachia to locate Subaru and Rem. His encounters there, including battles and alliances, further tempered his bravery despite recurring feelings of powerlessness. By Arc 9, he remained a military officer of the Emilia Camp, balancing fierce protectiveness with hard-won resilience.