Marahviri

Artist's concepts of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (left) and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (right), highlighting the 7.9-foot (2.4-meter) primary mirrors that sit in the heart of each observatory.

At the observatory’s heart sits a mirror that’s 7.9 feet (2.4 meters) across and 410 pounds (186 kilograms), or about the length and weight of a protoceratops! Roman’s primary mirror is the same size as the Hubble Space Telescope’s main mirror, but less than one-fourth the weight thanks to major improvements in technology.

Technicians installed Roman’s primary instrument, the Wide Field Instrument (pictured at left), in the fall of 2025.

The mission’s 300-megapixel infrared camera, called the Wide Field Instrument, is over 8 feet (about 2.5 meters) tall, which is about the length of a triceratops skull. It will give Roman the same angular resolution as Hubble while capturing an area of sky at least 100 times larger. The mission will gather data up to 1,000 times faster than Hubble.

Its sweeping cosmic surveys will help scientists discover new information about planets beyond our solar system, untangle mysteries like dark energy, and map how both normal matter and dark matter are structured and distributed throughout the universe. Casting such a wide, deep “net” into space will give astronomers plenty of cosmic bycatch as well; Roman’s crisp, panoramic views will offer practically limitless opportunities for astronomers to do all kinds of exciting science.

The Coronagraph Instrument was installed on Roman’s instrument carrier in October 2024.

Roman’s Coronagraph Instrument is about as wide (5.5 feet, or 1.7 meters) as a velociraptor is long. The Coronagraph is designed to demonstrate new technologies for directly imaging planets around other stars. It will block the glare from a star and make it possible for scientists to see the faint reflected light from planets in orbit around them.

The Coronagraph aims to photograph worlds and dusty disks around nearby stars in visible light to help us see giant worlds that are older, colder, and in closer orbits than the hot, young super-Jupiters direct imaging has mainly revealed so far.

This photo shows Roman’s 18 detectors, which are the heart of the mission’s 300-megapixel camera.

Roman’s “eyes,” 18 saltine cracker-sized detectors in its primary instrument, are each about as tall as an allosaurus tooth. They each have about 16.8 million tiny pixels for a total of 300 million, which means Roman’s images will be super hi-res. Each detector is made of millions of mercury-cadmium-telluride photodiodes (sensors that convert light into an electrical current), one for each pixel.

Principal technician Billy Keim installs a cover plate over Roman’s detectors.

The detectors are secured to a silicon electronics board that will help process the light signals using indium, a soft metal that has roughly the same consistency as chewing gum. Together, these ultra-sensitive detectors can capture vast areas of sky in a single shot while still revealing incredibly fine detail, allowing Roman to map the cosmos faster and more precisely than ever before.

Roman’s electrical wiring was installed on the spacecraft flight structure in the summer of 2023.

There are 1,000 pounds, or 450 kilograms, (the weight of a pachycephalosaurus) of electrical cabling, made up of about 32,000 wires and 900 connectors, laced throughout the observatory. If the wires were laid out end-to-end they would span 45 miles — nearly enough to trace the entire perimeter fence in the imagined Jurassic Park! Functioning as the Roman’s “nervous system,” the cabling enables different parts of the observatory to communicate with one another, provides power, and helps the central computer monitor the observatory’s function.

The Roman observatory was fully integrated on Nov. 25, 2025, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Roman’s six solar panels each measure about 7 by 10 feet (2 by 3 meters), collectively giving Roman a “wingspan” similar to a pteranodon’s! Together, they will provide a total of 4 kilowatts of power, which is about the same rate that a modest rooftop solar panel system produces during the daytime.

Over the course of two days in June 2025, eight technicians installed Roman’s solar panels onto the outer portion of the observatory.

The panels are covered in a total of 3,902 solar cells that will convert sunlight directly into electricity much like plants convert sunlight to chemical energy. When tiny bits of light, called photons, strike the cells, some of their energy transfers to electrons within the material. This jolt excites the electrons, which start moving more or jump to higher energy levels. In a solar cell, excited electrons create electricity by breaking free and moving through a circuit, sort of like water flowing through a pipe. The panels are designed to channel that energy to power the observatory.

Roman’s high-gain antenna will provide the primary communication link between the spacecraft and the ground.

The radio dish that will send data across a million miles of intervening space back to Earth spans 5.6 feet (1.7 meters) in diameter. That’s about the size of the largest known dinosaur footprints, yet it weighs only 24 pounds (10.9 kilograms). Its large size will help Roman send radio signals across a million miles of intervening space to Earth. The dual-band antenna will use one frequency band to receive commands and send back information about the spacecraft’s health and location. It will use another frequency band to transmit a deluge of data at up to 500 megabits per second.

We’re only a few months out from launch, and so close to a completely new understanding of the universe and our place within it. Follow along with Roman’s road to launch at nasa.gov/roman, and virtually tour the Roman observatory here.

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Spectra, there lived an Earl and his wife. The couple had wealth and contact with Spectra's royalty on account of the Earl being second cousins with the Queen. Though even with that power, there was something that put them firmly into the realm of infamy: their son, Gen.

Asagiri Gen, even at seven years old, was said to be a notorious figure in Spectra's nobility. He was gaunt and pale, with half of his disheveled hair being white. His eyes often reminded people of the glossy eyes of porcelain dolls with how lifeless they were.

The boy's countenance wasn't much better. He ignored the servants assigned to him by his parents, preferring to shut himself away to read, practice dark rituals or haunt the halls like a specter. That, and the fact that very strange things seemed to be happening around him made him into a bad omen.

By the time he was enrolled in school, his reputation had spread all through the kingdom, so no one dared to approach him. It didn't help matters that the boy had quite the silver tongue, mercilessly tormenting those who tried to start a conversation.

Furthermore, his magic lashed out at Spectra's first prince the first and only time his parents had to take him to the palace. An incident that put the Earl at odds with his royal cousin. The distraught Queen demanded compensation, and that her cousin was also to cast out the little boy whose magic hurt her son, knocking him unconscious.

Having finally reached the end of their patience, the Earl and his wife, after punishing Gen severely and haphazardly cutting his hair, leaving only one long strand on the side of his face, told one of the servants to load the boy onto a cart and dump him somewhere far away. The servant, who was fairly new and not very diligent with his tasks, just laid the unconscious boy in front of an old, run-down orphanage.

What no one heard was the tearful, whispered "Please be well, little boy" falling from the lips of the servant. The only farewell the boy would ever get.

---+---

Ten years later, a delegation composed of the King, the second prince, and assorted nobles from Spectra could be seen entering the palace of the Veridon Empire. All of them were worn out and famished. Their cloaks showed clear signs of dirt and tearing.

The person leading them through the palace was His Grace, Field Marshal Stanley Snyder-Wingfield, Duke of Aethercoil. They were all surprised that the Duke and his personal guard were the ones answering their signal for help and guidance. Dame Maya hinted that they took this upon themselves mostly because the Duke's adopted son asked them to.

While the Duke and his guard were cordial, the visitors couldn't quite shake the feeling that the warlord had scoped them out with his burning amber eyes and found them severely lacking. Even now, walking the Imperial Halls, they felt like prey being guided into the leviathan's maw. And with how long they kept navigating the twists and turns of the palace, it seemed like they were led to take as many detours as possible.

Even if that was the case, however, even detours couldn't go on forever. Sooner or later they all found themselves in front of a set of huge, opulent double doors depicting the Medusa, the Empire's Guardian. Duke Stanley Snyder let out a small portion of his signature fire magic and swiped across the doors with it. Medusa's eyes in the mural glowed green, and the doors opened, revealing a large throne room.

The delegation let their eyes glide over the sight that awaited them. The walls were marble, with various strategically embedded gemstones; a sure sign of immeasurable wealth. The floor was dark granite, with lush green carpets placed strategically upon the cold tiles. The carpet led directly to a platform with five stairs, upon which stood four opulent and finely decorated thrones. Beside the platform stood the desk of Duke Xeno Snyder-Wingfield, the Premier Minister and leader of the Noble faction.

Behind the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince hung the banner of Veridon in the signature colors of navy, sapphire, and forest green, respectively. In contrast to that, the Crown Prince’s Consort's banner was clearly that of Aethercoil, in a lavender tone. The thrones of the Emperor and Empress at the ends of the formation clearly confirmed what the king and prince had already heard through the grapevine: the Emperor was preparing to retire and putting his son in charge of more and more negotiations and royal duties.

When their eyes were finally ready to take in the people in the room all thoughts of the empire's wealth and status swept out of the delegation's heads. Gone was the gaunt, unkempt porcelain doll of a boy. There, sitting on the Crown Prince’s Consort's throne like it was made specifically for him, was Asagiri Gen. Clad in a white ensemble that complemented the Crown Prince's attire. A staff in his hand signifying his further status as a mage and a saint for the goddess Aeria. His two-toned hair, long again, lay over his left shoulder. Though he still kept the one strand they left him before, at exactly the length it was cut down to.

“Long time no see, King Endo and Second Prince Izumi.”

“You’re… alive… Asagiri Gen.”

“Please, I turned away from that name a long time ago. And since my adoption, it also isn’t accurate anymore. I’m Gen Snyder-Wingfield, now. Have been for nine years.” The easy admission brought smug smiles to his fathers, Dukes Xeno and Stanley, who both looked at the King and Prince like they were Apex Predators on the hunt, while the Spectranians made up the prey.

Before the blast from the delegation’s past could say more, a snide, angry, and bored tone cut in, while also taking Gen’s hand: “Don’t forget that soon you will bear my name and will become Gen Ishigami.” With that, Crown Prince Senku guided his fiancé’s hand to his lips and kissed the back of the pale, unblemished limb.

Gen, his cheeks blushing slightly at his fiancé’s action, gave the Crown prince a calm smile. “Senku-chan, please be calm. These people wouldn’t choose to step onto our soil lightly, so I’m sure they have a good reason why they are here. Let’s hear them out first.”

At this remark, King Endo nearly lost his composure. How dare the snarky little… A glint from the Premier Minister’s desk stopped him in his tracks. He had heard stories of Xeno Snyder-Wingfield being as ruthless as he was eccentric. The glint definitely came from the Duke’s claws catching the light from the chandelier. A threat veiled so thin the veil might as well not be there. It seemed the little bad omen was very well protected in Veridon. Which begged the question, why was it like this? Why were the Empire and that child thriving while his kingdom was plagued by catastrophes for nine years and counting?

Crown Prince Senku’s agitated voice quickly snapped the visiting king’s mind back to the here and now: “Why should I be cordial to these people who were more than fine to leave a seven-year-old child for dead?”

The Second Prince looked imploringly at the Emperor and Empress to rein in their son, but found nothing but scorn in their eyes. Even Empress Lillian, who was as renowned all over the world for her kindness as she was for her voice magic, now peered at them coldly. Fearing that his father was too agitated to be of much help, Prince Izumi took the initiative. Coming forward and giving the empire’s rulers a deep bow, he started his plea: “Greetings to the Sun, Moon, Star, and Star’s Heart of the Empire. I apologize for our rudeness. The journey was long and wore us out greatly. We humbly ask that you hear us out and grant us your assistance.”

“Continue”, came Emperor Byakuya’s command. He was curious what exactly it was that made the haughty and insufferably proud Spectranians desperate enough to ask them for help. And at least the Second Prince seemed to be a reasonable and diplomatic man, unlike his older brother, who was forbidden from stepping on Empire ground after coming to blows with Princess Kohaku, Senku’s twin sister and Captain of the Lion Guard, Senku’s personal unit. Hateful, opinionated and misogynistic, Spectra’s crown prince was the absolute bottom of the barrel in Byakuya’s, admittedly biased, opinion. Though looking at the King now, he could see just how closely the apple fell to the tree.

Prince Izumi nodded. “Nine and a half years ago, our saint got a vision from Celis, the Goddess of Foresight. The former Saint declared us a Kingdom of Fools and disappeared. With his disappearance, no one remained to cleanse the land and foresee the catastrophes we now face. The situation in our Kingdom is now critical. The monsters that were once contained now freely ravage our trade routes, leading to massive shortages. Our big cities are practically unreachable. Each of the five regions has its own unique plague to manage.”

“And what is it you want us to do about it?” The empire’s Crown Prince was still skeptical, but now there was an air of apprehension around him. Gen (and wasn’t that a thing to wrap their minds around) squeezed his fiancé’s hand in silent reassurance.

“We heard rumors of the Empire harboring a saint blessed with unparalleled affinity for magic and near-infinite Mana reserves, capable of purifying entire cities in a matter of days. Also, your Empire’s Five Pillars’ reputation precedes them. With a doctor who is said to heal even those on Death’s doorstep. A knight with enough strength to cut through steel and the durability to win a war even while bleeding out. A scientist capable of recognizing valuable minerals and stones just by looking at the terrain. A merchant able to turn even dust into gold and valuables. And a scout with magic-induced hearing that leads the Empire’s information network. We humbly ask you, gracious Imperial Leaders, to lend us these people for assistance.”

Unexpectedly, the one who spoke this time wasn’t one of the royals, but Premier Xeno: “So you came to cling to the person your Kingdom threw away for help? Have you no shame?” The man’s tone held a deceptively calm cadence, like a bored tiger looking at a pack of silly monkeys. But his eyes, in contrast, were livid with a father’s worried wrath. A wrath none of the delegation quite understood.

“Whatever do you mean, Your Grace?” inquired one of the visiting nobles, whose tone was sharper than it had right to be from someone asking for help.

At the same time, Gen looked at the premier. Was that a pout? “Papa! Please don’t say such things. They have a right to ask for help.” Turning his head back to face the delegation, he said calmly, “My father means to say that the saint in question is me. And two of the Pillars are my siblings, so I hope you can understand why your request makes him worried.”

Empress Lillian interjected, as well: “Didn’t the Queen boast incessantly that your Crown Prince married a new saintess, Prince Izumi? Then why come to us for help?”

Prince Izumi inwardly cringed at the Empress’ question, which was much sharper and filled with more schadenfreude than any member of the delegation thought the kind Empress capable of. Though now that he thought about it, Prince Izumi remembered some of the socialite nobles gossiping about a blood feud between her and his mother. Something about Emperor Byakuya choosing Empress Lillian instead of her.

“Well, you see… My brother’s wife, the new saintess, is with child now. We can’t risk her health…” and even while he said that, Prince Izumi sensed that he had just made a big mistake. The Dukes, as well as the Crown Prince, zeroed in on him, seemingly intent on tearing him apart should he say just one more word.

Crown Prince Senku snarled: “So you strive to push the dangerous tasks onto my fiancé instead?! How awfully convenient! Where do you get off…?!”

Emperor Byakuya banged his heavy platinum scepter on the floor twice, effectively cutting his son off and bringing the attention of everyone onto himself. “Be that as it may, I’m afraid we will have to postpone our answer until tomorrow afternoon.”

This answer shocked the delegation. “WHAT?!”

Prince Izumi, remembering the situation they were in, coughed once and then asked: “Why is that, Your Imperial Majesty?”

This time, the answer came from Senku, who had apparently calmed down: “You’re asking for our Five Pillars. As governing bodies of our Empire, they deserve to decide for themselves whether they want to involve themselves in this or not.”

“But you’re their rulers! Can you not order them to help us?”

“We can. But not only would that sour years of close relations, it also isn’t our way of doing things. And as the ones asking for help here, you'd better remind yourselves of your situations before making any demands, or telling us how we are to rule our Home.”

Gen interjected: “Plus, you told us in the beginning that you are all tired and famished. Please use the time you're given to regain your energy. Our staff will bring you to our guest chambers. Please be sure to tell them about any dietary restrictions or allergies you may have. It would not do for our hospitality to be put in question if something happens.”

Not exactly thrilled, but well aware of their place in this, the King and Prince bit out “Fine…” and made to follow the imperial servants to their chambers.

---+---

Later, in a separate room used exclusively for meetings of the Royals, the Dukes, and the Pillars, Senku and Gen were sitting on one of the sofas, waiting for the others to arrive. In that room, completely devoid of the opulence and grandness apparent everywhere else in the palace, there were no titles, no higher ground. As soon as one was allowed to enter, any and all titles were left at the door.

Senku used the brief window of time he was given to place his moon fairy onto his lap, holding him close and reassuring himself that Gen was still there. That these people, if they could even be called that, didn’t manage to spirit him away. Gen, blushing at the still somewhat new development in their relationship, combed his fingers through his fiancé’s hair to calm him. Who knew that the normally touch-averse Prince would throw his aversion out the window when it came to him?

“Senku! Quit trying to burrow yourself into Gen’s body! We have things to do!”

The remark effectively made Senku lift his head from the crook of his moon’s neck to glower at his smirking twin: “Kohaku… Remember this moment when I interrupt your date with Luna and know it is your fault and your fault only.”

Behind Kohaku, the next to arrive were Ruri, their oldest sister and Saintess of Love and Marriage Goddess Amare, followed by her husband, Chrome. A former commoner sponsored by Senku and Xeno until he was old enough to take over as the Pillar of Science and, as such, obtained his Marquis title. “Now-now, you two. I heard from mother that we have much more important things to discuss.”

At the reminder of their ‘guests’, matching groans of annoyance left the twins’ mouths, making Ruri and Gen chuckle at how similar they still were. Chrome, who didn’t yet know anything about Spectra’s arrogance, nor Gen’s past with them, only looked on in puppy-like confusion.

That was the scene to which Ryusui, his butler and Spectra’s former saint Francois, and Ryusui’s husband and Gen’s adopted brother Ukyo entered the room. The butler lost no time in setting a tablet with tea, sandwiches, and shortbread onto the table. Filling a cup with the floral scent and giving it to Senku: “Here. I had the feeling you need this, Master Senku.”

Francois’ impeccable manners didn’t allow them to defer to people without honorifics, so everyone just gave up on reminding them that those weren’t necessary in this room.

While Francois set the table, Ukyo made his way to Gen’s side: “Unhand my brother, Senku. You don’t get much cuddle time now, anyway. I can hear our parents and yours turning into the hall to this room, together with Luna.”

After Senku reluctantly let go of his moon fairy for now, the yellow-clad Pillar quickly used the chance to also hug his brother. He quietly asked him: “Are you alright? Did they do or say something untoward to you?”

“Of course not. Papa and Dad wouldn’t have let them go unpunished if they had.”

“We both know they’re unaware of the full scope of what happened to you.”

Smiling, Gen held his brother’s strong forearms: “Ukyo. I’m fine. Really. A bit shaken, but fine.”

The Pillar of Communication sighed: “If you’re sure…”

Looking around the room, Senku, taking Ukyo’s words into account, asked: “So now we’re essentially only waiting for Tsukasa?”

“No, you’re not”, came the Pillar of Order’s deep, calm voice. Making everyone but Francois and Ukyo whirl around. There, arms crossed and leaning against the wall next to the big floor-to-ceiling window that serves as the room's main light source, stood Tsukasa. He and his little sister Mirai were about to be illegally sold to slave traders when Gen and Luna, who were traveling with their parents, came upon them. While the Dukes of Aethercoil used the time to put the Fear of the Gods into the slave traders, and also to get information on who was really behind this (answer: two Spectranian nobles distantly related to the King), Gen and Luna unbound Tsukasa and talked him into laying his unconscious sister on the ground so they could look at what was wrong with her. After the boy complied, Luna healed his wounds while Gen purified the smoke-like plague from Mirai’s Mana, making the girl open her eyes for the first time in weeks.

The warrior insisted that he owed Aethercoil’s Ducal family a life debt, even if Gen and Luna both insisted he didn’t. So he honed his sword skills until no sword master could best him anymore. Especially once his magic-induced strength started to kick in. During his time helping the Dukes uproot the Empire’s filth, he also showed a finely honed sense of Law and Order, so much so that even the royals took notice and made him the Pillar of Order.

---+---

Francois, the butler, had been by the Pillar of Commerce’s side ever since he and his brother Sai were children. When the Goddess Celis sent them the vision of how badly the Spectranian nobility had treated one of its saints, they first spent six months searching for the orphanage where Gen had been abandoned, according to said vision. When they found it, though, there was nothing left of it but rubble. The region in which the orphanage was located had been plagued by criminals and bandits for decades. One of the bandit groups had apparently burned the place down because they were too poor to pay for their safety.

Devastated by the perceived loss of a child they could have nurtured and taught to use his gifts, Francois sent a message to be played on repeat in the Kingdom’s town and city squares for a month, where they called Spectra the Kingdom of Fools. Then they cut off their hair until it barely touched their shoulders, an act of shame and atonement, and left, never to step foot on Spectra’s soil again until the time of its destruction came.

On the way to Veridon, Francois’ newly bought cart and horse had an accident when two little boys jumped out of a (gaudy) noble’s carriage, bickering and not looking at the road. Francois, seeing that there was no way to stop their horse in time, decided to save the boys by jumping and rolling away with them in their arms. When the noble, Count Nanami, came to offer them thanks and to pay damages, Francois pretended to be an amnesiac heading to Veridon in search of work. So, seeing a cheap solution to his two extramarital problems, the Count hired them to ‘keep the bastard children out of sight’.

Master Ryusui, not pleased with having no name to address them with, named Francois after the manservant of a Lord from one of his favorite adventure novels. Over time, they became attached to the brilliant but terribly neglected brothers. So much so that when the time came for Master Sai to enroll at the Noble Academy, they spent days packing and rearranging his suitcases. Time not spent secretly comforting Master Ryusui, that was. Fortunately, when it was time for their younger master to enroll as well, Francois was able to accompany them and take care of both of them again.

Then, within the first week of classes, Master Ryusui managed to befriend not only the Crown Prince but also the adopted son and daughter of Dukes Xeno and Stanley Snyder-Wingfield. One look at the two-toned boy when they met at the palace gardens for a play date shocked him into forgetting his manners for a bit and kneeling to embrace him. Seeing how strange the behavior was, especially to the adults in the garden, they quickly explained who they were, that they lied when they said they had amnesia, and why the boy, Gen, had provoked such a strong reaction from them. The royals and the dukes promised to keep their identity a secret, as long as Francois helped them keep the Spectranians at bay.

After years of hard work, his instinct-based magic awakening, teamwork with the only brother he would ever acknowledge as such, and scrambling to keep his father ignorant of his doings, Ryusui finally managed to surpass the Count. Though Francois, after telling his two charges their secret, offered them their Gift of Foresight, the brothers refused, saying they wanted to do it on their own merit. Now the Count was sure to remain but a footnote in history, his precious legitimate Heir knocking at the doors of Bankruptcy. At the same time, Master Sai was a Count in his own right and Head of the Eastern Mage Tower, while Master Ryusui was the Empire’s Pillar of Commerce, controlling the Empire’s Trades and keeping its wealth structures steady.

---+---

“So we’re all here? Great! Let’s begin our meeting,” said Byakuya, coming into the room with his wife, Xeno, Stanley, and Luna. The only female Pillar, the Pillar of Medicine to be exact, swiftly crossed the room to give her brothers a hug, then took Gen by the hand to bring him to the table. She sat beside him on his left while Senku took his place on Gen’s other side. Ukyo’s place was on his sister’s other side, all three siblings sitting side by side. Beside Ukyo sat Ryusui, with Francois preferring to stand behind him. Then came Tsukasa, Chrome with Ruri beside him, and then the parental units at the Head. Kohaku also preferred to stand, so she mostly sprawled over the backs of Luna or Senku’s chairs.

After they were all seated, the royals first brought everyone up to speed about what transpired in the throne room, why their uninvited guests were here, and what they demanded of them, the Pillars and Gen, specifically. Suffice to say, none of the people in the room were thrilled.

Chrome, as the only one who never had to deal with Spectra, remarked: “I’m still confused as to how it comes that Spectra has no Mages or Saints of their own. I mean, they say the Crown Princess is a saintess, but who knows if that’s even true. But, for example, we have two saints and four towers full of Mages. And our outpost in Fridaeya has Saint of Charm Amarylis, and three Mages in Mozu, Kirisame, and Matsukaze. So why doesn’t Spectra have any?”

Ukyo was the one to answer that one: “Because they systematically persecuted all Mages they considered to be ‘useless’ or ‘bad omens’.” Gen barely held back a flinch at the latter label. Though not enough that the others didn’t notice. After giving his little brother an apologetic glance, Ukyo continued his explanation, “So over the decades, the number of children with magical abilities dwindled. As for the Saints, that's mostly due to people mistaking Saints for Mages. Plus, once the former Saint of Foresight abandoned them without so much as naming a successor, they had no way to know where to even search for a new Saint.”

Ruri then quietly explained to her husband exactly how Ukyo and Gen were treated in Spectra. Shocked and a bit annoyed at being the last to know, Chrome said with a pout: “So now we have to clean up the mess they made? No thanks!”

Gen sighed: “As a saint of Sky Goddess Aeria, I made a vow never to ignore a plea for help. So to ignore innocent people dying, now, just because of private apprehensions, is unfeasible.”

Senku grimaced: “Plus, as much as this is their Karma, our political relationship with Spectra is bad as is. I’m not overly in love with the idea of waging war should they manage to somehow pull themselves together.”

Francois suddenly raised their hand: “Master Gen, Master Senku, I understand your concerns, but may I speak freely?”

Senku gave them a long-suffering look: “Of course, Francois. You don’t need to ask. This is what this room is for!”

“Thank you, Master Senku. Master Gen, please consider this: if you obediently comply, they will most likely twist your help as ‘atonement for your sins’. Even if you were to deplete all of your Mana to purify their lands, it will only be seen as your duty. These people are not the kind you can hope to gain gratitude or even remorse from.”

Such a sobering prospect coming from the normally uber-polite butler made the youngest saint in the room contemplative for a moment. “Now that I think about it… How about this…?”

---+---

The next day at one in the afternoon, the throne room was much fuller than when the delegation arrived. Apart from the people who were in the room yesterday, there were also the Five Pillars, Princess Ruri, and a pair of nobles unknown to the delegation.

Prince Izumi, believing his plea was granted, couldn’t quite quell his excitement. “I see you came to a decision, Your Imperial Majesty?”

“We have. But we cannot allow our people to stride into danger for free. We have stipulations.” These people were starting to grate even on Byakuya’s mind. Quite the achievement, all things considered.

King Endo grumbled: “Of course you do.” After a glare from his son, he remembered his station and rephrased, “You know we are too stricken by catastrophes to pay you back with money right now. So could you please state those stipulations?”

The answer came from Gen: “Please rest assured. We do not require your money. All we require is an Arrangement of Truths.”

Prince Izumi blinked in confusion: “What is that?”

Ruri took it upon herself to answer as the older saint: “It is a pact that seals both parties to their truths and promises.”

Gen held up his open palm, saying, “Since you want us to help all five of your regions, I will ask you to answer five questions. For each question you answer correctly, we will free one of your regions.”

“And if we give the wrong answer, you will turn us away?” The King couldn’t keep himself from making an angry remark.

“No. If you get it wrong, you’re free to try again until you get it right”, Gen said with a smile.

Ruri took up the rest of the explanation: “To ensure fairness, the Arrangement of Truths is usually paired with a Truth Judgment ritual to verify the answers. Gen will write the questions on five cards. If you know the answer, you must write it down on the other side of the card. Afterward, the card is laid onto an altar. If the answer is correct, the paper will grow a flower. If it’s wrong, the card will burn.”

“Since I’m one of the concerned parties”, said Gen, still smiling, “I’m not allowed to conduct the ritual. So Ruri, as another saint, agreed to do it.”

Byakuya looked at his daughter with concern. “Are you sure? You’re with child, after all. And the ritual drains a lot of Mana. About as much as it would take to purify a city.”

“I’ll be fine, Father. After all, I’m pregnant, not ill. My mana will be fine. Goddess Amare confirmed it this morning.”

Gen continued: “As another precaution to make sure neither of us can back out of the Arrangement, Baroness Minami, the strongest user of broadcasting magic, will make all results of the ritual public across both Veridon and Spectra.” At this, one of the two unknown nobles stepped forward and gave the delegation a shallow bow.

“Are you trying to humiliate us, you…?!” King Endo started, but his son quickly stomped on his foot to silence the irate King.

“I don’t. I promise you I have no intention to ask any difficult questions. The answers will be easily verifiable.”

While the King was still throwing a tantrum like a spoiled toddler, Prince Izumi just nodded. “I understand. It sounds fair, so let’s start the ritual. We really have no time to lose.”

Gen and Ruri nodded to Minami, who started the broadcast magic with a recap of the explanation of what was happening and how the ritual worked. Meanwhile, Gen gave an incantation and pointed his staff at the granite floor. In a flash, an altar appeared there, with five cards numbered 1 to 5 lying on it, face down. Gen took the first card and handed it to Prince Izumi to read.

On the card was written: ‘Who is the saint with unparalleled affinity for magic and near-infinite Mana harbored by Veridon? State their full name now, and the name and rank of their birth family.’

Prince Izumi, overjoyed that he had to answer such a simple question instead of an impossible-to-solve riddle, quickly wrote “Gen Snyder-Wingfield, Birth family: Asagiri Earldom” and gave the card to Ruri for her to complete the ritual. Ruri, eyes glowing a bright cerulean, repeated the question and the answer the Prince gave for all to hear before she placed the card on the altar. She fed her mana into the sigil carved on top of it. After some time, a small chive flower bloomed upon the card.

While the delegation celebrated their easy win, Senku and Gen hushed over to Ruri to make sure the Princess was fine. Ruri just smiled indulgently at her brother and his fiancé, letting them look her over while assuring them that she was alright, yes, Senku, really.

With that, Gen turned back to face Prince Izumi. “Since you answered truthfully, we will assist the first region. Goddess Aeria, please help us determine which region to go to first!” With that, the card with the flower on it glowed and dispersed into a thousand small particles. The little lights swirled lightly around Gen, then Luna, like they were giving them a hug. Then they glided over between Gen and Prince Izumi, forming a word. Granea.

“Goddess wants us to go to Granea. Can you tell us what the region’s specific plight is, Prince?”

Prince Izumi, still shocked and fascinated by all he had seen today, stumbled a little over his words as he explained: ”S-sure! O-of course! Granea is suffering from an epidemic. Everyone who gets infected falls into a deep coma within three days, after spending two of those days losing a lot of blood and fluids.”

Gen and Luna exchanged glances. After his sister gave him a determined nod, Gen said, “Fine. We will do what we can to help. Please give us two weeks.”

---+---

Down in Ambrosée, the Empire’s food and fashion capital, where the scent of fresh fruit and vegetables and the rustle of fine fabrics are ever-present, Duke Taiju and Duchess Yuzuriha were watching the broadcast showing their best friends with frowns on their faces.

“They’re making a move.”

“Seems like it. I just wish Gen didn’t have to deal with these people again, ever.”

“Me, too. But ever since Senku had started his courtship, that became a moot point. He would have had to deal with those abominable people sooner or later.”

“You’re right, my dear. But since it’s like this, we can at least make ourselves useful. Genen!”

The stocky, older man came running, arriving at their side slightly out of breath. “You called, Lord Taiju?”

“Yes. Give orders to Magma and Yo that they’re to send food and supplies to the people of Granea. And to set aside reserves for every region named during the broadcasts. The common folk bear no fault in what dumbasses their nobility and rulers turned out to be.”

---+---

Gen and Luna held their word. They arrived back at the palace after two weeks of relief efforts, exhausted but with an air of a job accomplished. While making their way to the throne room to report their return, they were ambushed by an excited Prince Izumi. “The relief efforts and purification were a big success! Thanks to both of you, Granea is now safe to prosper! Let’s commence with the next region now! I’m ready!”

Luna, exhausted and very angry on behalf of her brother, simply could not take the disrespect any longer: “Oh, so now we need to jump just because you want us to?! Are you blind, or simply stupid?! Can’t you see that we just returned from a grueling task that YOU saddled us with?! Don’t we deserve some rest?! Are we cattle that you can boss around to your heart’s content?!”

“Please, Marchioness, that wasn’t what I meant…”

“Luna, please… It’s alright…”

The healer whirled around to face her brother. “But Luna, nothing! Maybe Princey over there should have taught his subject respect before going to us for help! These people had the gall to insult and taunt you, throwing fruit at your back while you purified their land! How is that fair?!”

“I know it’s not, star child. But please refrain from shouting it so loudly. Taiju would be inconsolable if he knew good produce was being used like this.”

“But moon child…”

“THEY DID WHAT?!” Speak of the devil. The double doors were thrown apart, and there stood Taiju, in full ducal regalia for once. Gen hoped that someone would at least hold the emotional Duke back before he set off to fight the just purified region, rendering all their work useless, but no one seemed particularly inclined to do so. On the contrary, every Veridene person in the throne room was now looking disdainfully at Prince Izumi.

Ever the diplomat, Gen gave the Prince an apologetic smile. “Please excuse us, Prince Izumi. We are tired and need to replenish our energy. So please give us five days to rest.” Seeing the Prince about to argue, Gen snapped his fingers with his left hand, summoning the card with the number 2 on it. “In the meantime, use these days to solve the second question. You may consult anyone you wish.”

Prince Izumi, still riding the high of answering the easy first question, eagerly read what was written on the card. Then he looked up, gleefully exclaiming: “This is so easy! We can consult the Earl directly! At this rate, I can provide you with the answer tomorrow! Then we can negotiate shortening the rest period!”

Gen only smiled at the prince’s enthusiasm. “I wish you good luck, Prince Izumi.” With that, the moon and star children entered the throne room, with the wave of the Emperor’s hand closing the doors before the celebrating Prince.

---+---

Three days passed with no word from Prince Izumi. On the fourth day, the throne room was privy to a Prince who was utterly defeated. The prince looked about as exhausted and unkempt as he did when the delegation arrived in the Empire.

“I inquired with the Earl, his wife, my mother, who’s the Earl's second cousin… Everyone even remotely allied with him! No one has an answer to your question!”

Gen’s hand flew up to cover his gasp. “Oh my! Have they already forgotten everything to do with their estranged child? How sad!”

Minami was so glad that no one was looking at her because she had a lot of trouble keeping herself from laughing. Their future Prince Consort’s dramatics were certainly a sight to behold!

Sobering up a bit, Gen continued: “Since you agreed to the Arrangement, I can’t purify the next region without it. So please try again to obtain the answer.”

Hearing this, the Prince became furious. “You fake saint! Are you making fun of me?! At least give me a hint!”

SLAP!

The Medicine Pillar’s slap echoed throughout the room, audible also to those watching the broadcast. With some people even sending word to the Magic Towers to obtain copies of this scene to play on repeat. Senku had to knock Kohaku over the head to snap her out of her heart eyes. With his twin sticking her tongue out at him in return, since she knew he was no better with his own fiancé. Fortunately, they were very much hidden by the Lion Guard members, so no one who wasn’t family witnessed this moment of sibling bickering.

“How dare you insult my brother?! Did you already forget your place here?!” Luna obviously had had enough of their Spectranian visitors. They had no right to insult her family. Nor did they show any respect towards the gods since they were so quick to insult a Saint.

Stanley laid his arm around his daughter, herding her to stand with him next to Xeno’s desk. He, too, was livid, but as the Field Marshal, it was one of his duties to make sure the delegation stayed alive until they realized the full scope of their stupidity. Plus, the fact that no one but Gen himself knew what those questions entailed made their family even more nervous.

He and Xeno exchanged tense glances, conveying every thought into those. They knew that Gen’s life in Spectra was horrible. And he also had a bad feeling that they were all about to find out just how horrible it was. Call him a coward, but thinking back on how much effort it took him and Xeno to lift Gen’s self-worth to a somewhat human level, Stan couldn’t help but think that he didn’t want to know. With his magic being mostly emotion-based, knowing would maybe not be for the best.

Meanwhile, Prince Izumi’s stinging cheek made him remember where he was and who exactly had more power here. “My apologies. I forgot myself from frustration.”

Gen nodded. “I understand. Still, our Agreement comes with a mouth seal. I can’t give you more hints than what is written on that card. If you excuse me, my sister is very distraught and still in need of rest. So if that is alright with you, our family will take our leave, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Byakuya sighed. “I wish you wouldn’t call me that. We’ll soon be family, after all.”

“Soon, but not yet. I have to keep my decorum until then, Sire~” Gen singsonged in a teasing tone, causing Byakuya to chuckle.

“Well, there’s no reason to keep everyone here any longer, then. Everyone is dismissed for now.”

While leisurely following after his husband and said husband’s family, Ryusui stopped for a second beside the Second Prince. “Not that you deserve it after what you said about my brother-in-law, but let me give you a piece of advice. Asking the Nobles accomplishes nothing. The way to get to the truth is through those who have their eyes and ears everywhere. The ones who fly under the radar because no one notices. Ask the servants who left the household. The ones still working there have something to lose. The ones who don’t, left there for a reason.”

With that, the Pillar of Commerce left the Prince to contemplate his next steps.

---+---

In a hut far away, right at the border between Spectra and Veridon, Kaseki was busy making new horseshoes for a Merchant caravan whose carriage horse had lost its horseshoes due to shoddy work. The broadcast was blaring behind him. Oh, how nice it felt to see that the poor boy he had left at the orphanage years ago was doing well!

And the girl slapping the Prince was so very satisfying, he just had to clap. He was a bit embarrassed by it until the caravan leader, a strong, burly man with a loud voice named Yakov, laughed and clapped along with him, his wife and fellow merchants soon chiming in.

Now that the horseshoe is shaped and put into the water to cool down, he could allow himself a moment to go down memory lane. Before he became a blacksmith, Kaseki worked as a handyman for a Lord for twenty years. The Lord was not a very jolly man, but they had an understanding. He stayed out of the Lord’s way, and the Lord treated him with usual grumpy ambivalence.

Then, there was a monster attack that the Lord had been called in to deal with, never to return. The staff held the estate together until the poverty of one too many months without pay drove them off, one after another. Kaseki was one of the last staff members to leave. After a few more months traveling in search of work, he found his way to the estate of Earl Asagiri. A man whom Kaseki recognized as completely unpleasant. He and his wife had an air around them that made them appear nice at first glance, but underneath, they were so rotten it was a miracle they hadn’t died of bad Mana poisoning, yet. But Kaseki needed the money, so he started working for the Earl.

Right from the first week on, the man noticed that it wasn’t just the nobles who were evil, but the staff as well. Anyone who did their work honestly and didn’t flatter people was declared to be lazy and stupid. The fact that Kaseki didn’t care what others thought of him was even worse in the other servants’ eyes. So they tormented and bullied him more to get a reaction, which the man refused to give them. A perpetual motion machine of bullying.

Then one day, he accidentally noticed that a little boy was being hauled somewhere by one of the maids. The boy looked emaciated, his skin spanned so tightly over his body that Kaseki could count every bone in his body, even from the other side of the hall. Though the maid’s grip looked painful, the boy hardly flinched.

After that, the servant paid more attention to what the others were talking about amongst themselves. What he learned left him horrified. The boy, the Earl’s son, was mistreated at every turn. With no one there to help the poor child. As someone born in Veridon, he never understood the snobbish disdain Spectra had against Magic users. It was clear, though, that the boy was powerful, though it really did him no favors. He tried to get closer to the boy, whose name was never spoken in the estate. To show him that not everyone is bad. But his efforts were thwarted again and again, and he was beaten with a whip for ‘sticking his nose where it didn’t belong’.

Until finally, after the boy’s magic lashed out at the First Prince for being dunked in muddy water repeatedly, the Earl had found a chance to get rid of the child and punish Kaseki at the same time. He ordered him to take the poor boy somewhere far enough away and kill him. Inwardly, the Earl had also prepared to ‘apprehend’ Kaseki as soon as the servant returned, and to have him hanged for ‘the boy’s abduction’. Since Kaseki suspected something like this might happen and had been warned by one of the new cooks, who was disgusted by everyone’s behavior, he used this chance wisely. He left the little boy at a rundown orphanage he knew from experience as a traveler, where the children were treated well. After that, he collected the cook, and they both made haste to get as far away from the Earl’s land as possible. Kaseki opened his smithy at the border, finally doing what he always dreamed of, while his friend went further up into the Empire’s harbor city, got married, and had three beautiful daughters, whom he named Ruby, Sapphire, and Garnet.

Just as he was coming back to the here and now, the door to his smithy opened again, and a cloaked figure entered. Seeing the figure made Kaseki roll his eyes. “If you want to hide your status, you should invest in a less conspicuous cloak, Second Prince.”

The disrespect made the figure bristle. “If you know who I am, shouldn’t you be showing me more respect?”

“I’m not one of your citizens. And even if I was, respect is something to earn, not something to demand just by virtue of being born. Now tell me what you want, or get the hell out of here. I have commissions to finish.”

---+---

Prince Izumi stood before the altar like a prisoner before the gallows. The hand holding up the card with the second question shook like a leaf, while beads of cold sweat gathered on his face and forehead.

Xeno asked him: “So you finally found the answer? How did you manage that?”

The Prince’s voice was small and squeaky. In contrast to the one he used to insult his younger son in this very room before. “I-I asked the servants. The ones still working for the Earl said they knew nothing. But I found the former servant who dropped Ge­”

At the glare he received from everyone in the room for foregoing Gen’s title, he gulped and started anew: “Who dropped future Prince Consort Gen off at that orphanage. He assisted me with the answer. When confronted with it, other servants also broke down and corroborated its validity.” He then turned to Gen. “But please, I can’t believe it! My mother’s relative… There’s no way that’s true…”

While Gen still smiled at him softly, there was a cold calmness in his eyes. “I guess there is only one way to find out. Though this time, I’m afraid we’re in a dilemma. There are certain things we Saints are not allowed to say, or we could severely hurt our Mana supply. But for the broadcast to work, the question and answer must be read aloud and imbued with Mana. I’m sorry, Head Mage, I’m afraid I will need to burden you with this.”

The unknown noble who always came with Baroness Minami chuckled and stepped forward. When he passed the Prince by, he felt something drop, like a falling curtain. A Glamour! Looking at the noble again, he finally recognized him. Count Sai, the Head of one of the Mage Towers and the greatest Reality-bending Mage to exist in Centuries!

“There is no need for that much formality. There is hardly anything I wouldn’t do for my friends. Greetings from Chelsea, by the way. She’s very offended that you and Luna didn’t take her to Granea with you.”

Some of Gen’s tension lessened at the mention of his and Luna’s quasi-cousin. “I promise we will take her with us next time. But for now, that’s not a good idea. Chelsea wouldn’t like Spectra, I can guarantee you that much. Well, if I have your agreement, we can begin.”

Prince Izumi didn’t quite want to hand over the card, so Sai, annoyed by the prince’s antics, used magic to levitate the card into his grasp. Eyes glowing teal while Ruri’s had the cerulean glow of the Goddess Amare, just like they had during the first ritual.

Sai began to read, in a tone that sounded far away, like he was in a trance. “The question asked was ‘In Spectra, I never heard a soul call me by name. What was the nickname my birth house and its servants used for me?’ And the answer the other party wants verified is…”

For a small moment, the Head Mage’s powers lashed out, changing the reality around them to reflect the inside of a volcano. Then he got himself back under control, and they were back in the throne room like nothing had happened. Sai continued. “… ’The filthy Rat’.”

The room fell into complete and utter silence. Then…

“WHAT THE HELL DID YOU WRITE?!”

“HOW DARE YOU?!”

Both Senku and Luna lashed out at the Prince at the same time, with Senku holding onto his moon fairy’s hand for dear life. Meanwhile, Xeno, Stanley, and Tsukasa looked closely at the card that was given to Ruri to place on the altar and imbue with Mana. All three were hoping against hope that it would burn. But instead, it, too, grew a flower. This time it was a yellow carnation.

Gen, again, smiled at the Prince. “You answered my second question truthfully. So again, I ask you, Goddess Aeria, for guidance on which region we are to assist next.” This time, the card with the flower evaporated and made a cloud, right above the Prince’s head. The cloud then began to pour down on him, and the heavy rain spelled out a word. Noelle. Then the cloud stopped, and a miniature sun broke through. First, it danced over to shine over Ryusui’s head, then did the same to Sai.

The Prince, shocked and humiliated, but unable to do anything about it because a mere mortal had no right to complain about his treatment from a goddess, just hung his head in defeat. “Noelle was once our trade region. But for eight years now, no merchant is willing to step foot in there. As soon as one does, any wares someone has with them rot or rust, and all money, silver, and gold turn into rotten leaves.”

Sai then said, “This doesn’t seem to be something a Saint should concern themselves with. Plus, the Goddess only indicated Ryusui and me. So, how about we take a look at the situation first? If anything happens where we need your help, we can still contact you, Gen.”

---+---

Within the Eastern Mage Tower, a bespectacled woman who looked deceptively young was nibbling on cookies as she watched the broadcast, with her head resting on the palm of her left hand. Though the light reflecting in the round lenses of her glasses hid her eyes, the catlike smirk on her face was enough to make any mage of the Tower run for the hills, should they see it.