The historical record of this event is fragmentary but precious. The names of the martyrs, the date of their execution, and the circumstances of their deaths have been preserved through the testimonies of survivors, the witness of the Kei people, and the tireless work of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. In December 2025, the Diocese of Amboina formally opened the beatification process for these thirteen martyrs—a testament to the enduring power of their witness. The novel's central characters—the thirteen martyrs—are historical figures. The fictional characters (Sister Maria Goretti, Ibu Marta, Markus Malan, Lukas, and others) were created to represent the collective experiences of the many individuals who lived through these events. They are not intended to represent specific historical persons. Rather, they embody the experiences, struggles, and faith of the many people—Dutch, Kei, and Japanese—who were touched by these events.