The sun over Numina, capital of the Kingdom of Numbers, rose like a blazing coin. Light shimmered across towers carved with symbols—addition marks, fraction signs, and long strings of digits that pulsed as if alive.
In the center square, the Gate of Infinity opened for the first time in a hundred years.
And standing before it was a fourteen-year-old boy named Mark.
He wasn't born with power. No noble crest, no royal teacher. Just a restless mind and a piece of chalk tucked behind his ear. Rumor said the one who mastered the Four Golden Gates could reshape logic itself—and Mark intended to try.
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The First Gate — Addition: The Art of Building
A voice boomed from the glowing archway:
> "Every creation begins by joining fragments. Add them well, or crumble in confusion."
Golden symbols spiraled before Mark:
4 + 7 + 9 + 3 = ?
Mark closed his eyes. He saw not digits, but blocks—units of light stacking together.
He grouped them quickly:
(4 + 6) + (7 + 3) = 10 + 10 = 20.
The gate shimmered open.
> "Lesson One," whispered the voice, "Addition is not counting—it's pattern building. Pair numbers to make tens; group blocks to balance speed and accuracy."
In the world of Numina, every correct answer released energy—Numen, the force scholars used for creation.
Mark felt warmth surge through his fingertips. Numbers glowed around him like obedient spirits.
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The Second Gate — Subtraction: The Art of Balance
The next arch was colder. A silver mist floated between two runes:
98 – 47 = ?
Mark drew in the air with his chalk.
> "When you subtract," he remembered from the Tower lessons, "you aren't taking away—you're restoring balance."
He split the digits:
(90 – 40) = 50
(8 – 7) = 1
50 + 1 = 51.
The mist parted.
> "Lesson Two," the gate said, "Subtraction is finding what's missing. Break large numbers into tens and ones; solve each level calmly."
The Numen around Mark turned silver—controlled, precise, like water held in a glass.
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The Third Gate — Multiplication: The Art of Acceleration
Now the ground trembled. A red gate blazed open, symbols multiplying across its surface like wildfire.
> "Power grows by repeating strength," the voice roared. "Show your command!"
The numbers rose: 23 × 4
Mark didn't panic. He broke it: (20 × 4) + (3 × 4)
= 80 + 12 = 92.
The red symbols exploded into sparks.
> "Lesson Three," said the voice, "Multiplication is structured repetition. Break numbers into parts you already know, then rebuild."
Every flash of light from the gate stored inside his mark—his Scholar's Seal.
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The Fourth Gate — Division: The Art of Precision
The final gate was dark, quiet.
On it was written: 144 ÷ 12 = ?
Division—the gate of judgment. One mistake, and the sequence collapses.
Mark exhaled, recalling what he'd learned.
> "Division is not destruction—it's fair sharing."
He visualized: twelve groups sharing 144 Numen equally.
144 ÷ 12 = 12.
The gate opened wide. Four streams of light circled him—gold, silver, red, blue—melding into one brilliant aura.
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The Reward of Understanding
Mark stepped into the heart of the Tower.
Above him floated a crystal tablet engraved with the ancient rule:
> "In the Kingdom of Numbers, knowledge is energy. The more you understand, the stronger you become."
And beneath it, the challenge for every student:
Addition builds.
Subtraction balances.
Multiplication amplifies.
Division refines.
Each formula, each pattern, was no longer a burden—it was fuel.
Mark lifted his chalk.
"Let's see," he whispered, a grin tugging at his lips, "how far numbers can really go."