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Luiza “Luli” Sparks was a kind and intelligent girl who lived in Numeralia, the biggest city in the Kingdom of Pi. She was eight years old, had striking green eyes and brown hair.

Luli had a thoughtful personality with an inquisitive mind that knew no boundaries. She was fascinated by riddles. So much so she earned the reputation of being a riddle solver.

“I’m in numbers, words, and stories of old. I’m the freedom you can feel. I'm a treasure that’s not made out of gold. I’m wealth no one can steal.”

This was the first riddle Luli had ever tried to solve. She was walking back from the library with her Dad, Mr. Sparks, when he posed the riddle to her.

“This is a riddle, Sparks,” her Dad explained as they walked. Sparks was his sweet nickname for Luli. “It gives you clues to figure out the answer. I thought you might enjoy trying to solve it.”

“Sounds fun, Dad,” Luli replied, feeling an instant excitement build-up. “The answer has to be something we can find in words and stories, right, Dad? Is it a letter, like ‘a’ or ‘b’?”

“Tell me why you think letters are like a treasure to us,” Mr. Sparks replied.

“Hm…I actually don’t think they are, Dad,” Luli replied. She had forgotten to consider the other clues in the riddle.

“The answer must also be like a treasure or wealth that cannot be stolen,” she reiterated the other clues, thinking deeply about the riddle for several minutes.

“Coins are like a treasure. They are also present in many stories, like treasure hunts, but they are not in numbers and words. The answer cannot be coins. Maybe it’s books. Books have numbers, words, and stories in them! Wait, but books can be stolen…The answer cannot be books either.”

“Dad, I give up!” Luli said with a bit of frustration after a while. “This riddle is too complicated. I can’t figure out the answer!”

“It’s OK, Sparks. This is a tough riddle, especially if it's your first. But it’s an important one. Perhaps the most important of all.”

Luli was intrigued. “What’s the answer, Dad?”

“The answer is Knowledge, Sparks.”

“Knowledge? Really? I would never have guessed that! Why is this riddle about knowledge so important, Dad?”

Mr. Sparks knelt down with a stern expression and looked Luli straight in the eyes.

“This riddle is a lesson, Sparks. Knowledge is the best gift you can ever give or receive. It allows you to think for yourself, separate good from evil, and make the right choices.”

“Once you learn something, no one can take it away,” Mr. Sparks continued. “It’s yours for as long as you live. That’s why it’s a treasure and a source of wealth for everyone. Don’t ever stop learning.”

Luli didn’t fully grasp the meaning of what her Dad was trying to teach, but the thrill of that first riddle stuck with her.

Luli had two great friends, Rafael “Rafa” McNutty and Jeanne “Gigi” Lovejoy.

Rafa was a lively, energetic boy less than a year younger than Luli. They were about the same height. He wore glasses and a trendy, relaxed hairstyle that usually turned heads.

He was also an athletic kid with a strong spirit. “It’s adventure-o’clock,” he would often say at the beginning of an adventure, speaking in a high-pitched, captivating voice that was a hallmark of his expressive theatrical personality.

Rafa was a joker with a tendency for mischief and pushing the boundaries. He often admitted to his friends that he got into too much trouble. But he was a kind-hearted, great friend.

Jeanne was a little bit older than Luli and Rafa. She had recently turned nine years old. She had a gentle and easygoing spirit and loved dancing. Her slight clumsiness and stylish way added charming touches to a lovely personality.

Unlike Luli, Jeanne wasn’t fond of riddles and sometimes felt intimidated by stronger characters or intense situations. But her intelligence and creativity eventually shone through once she let loose.

Jeanne, Luli, and Rafa were almost inseparable despite their differences.

Luli’s keen intellect, Rafa's carefree spirit, and Jeanne's sweetness made them a remarkable trio with a proclivity for adventures. The occasional lighthearted banter and playful teasing were the icing on the cake, adding an extra layer of fun to their escapades.

Luiza “Luli” Sparks, Rafael “Rafa” McNutty, and Jeanne “Gigi” Lovejoy were three close friends who lived in Numeralia, the biggest city in the Kingdom of Pi. They had a taste for adventure and playfully claimed to be the Pi Trio, the best trio of friends in the entire kingdom.

Several months had passed since Luli, Rafa, and Jeanne embarked on an unexpected summer adventure deep inside the Enchanted Forest. With the help of Bravus, the King of Unicorns, their wit, and teamwork, they brought the Sun back by discovering there is an infinity of numbers in the world.

The Pi Trio also discovered some troubling news: the evil Mighty Sorcerers, thought to be defeated in the Battle of Flames and Wands, might have returned. They also learned Queen Marie was secretly a Witch and that her real name was Zuzu. Not all Sorcerers in Pi were evil, after all.

Jeanne woke up to a crisp winter Sunday morning in Pi. She yawned and opened her planetary shades, gazing at a cluster of gray clouds. “I miss the sunshine,” she sighed as her thoughts drifted to the Royal Hall and the moment Queen Marie revealed the truth about the Mighty Sorcerers. Jeanne frowned. “What if the Mighty Sorcerers are back? What are we going to do?”

At that moment, the clouds cleared, and rays of sunshine filled Jeanne’s room, bringing a surge of joy that swept away her concerns. It was, after all, a special Sunday. Jeanne was looking forward to spending the day with Luli and Rafa.

Jeanne smiled and walked to her closet. “A library visit on a Sunday—classic Luli!” she chuckled, rifling through her wardrobe. “Hmm, gray overcoat and boots. Perfect for today!”

Jeanne got dressed and decided to wake up her parents. She opened their square-shaped shades and jumped onto their bed, shouting gleefully, “Mom, Dad, it’s time to get up!”

“What?! Is it morning already? I need some snooze time!” Mrs. Lovejoy said in a silly voice, stretching her arms and yawning.

“No snoozing, miss,” Mr. Lovejoy said, jumping out of bed, grabbing his purple robes, and walking to the kitchen with Jeanne. “Fruity 3D-Tasty Cubic-Os as usual, sweetie?” Mr. Lovejoy asked Jeanne, referring to her favorite cereal from Geometreats. Jeanne nodded. The day was off to a great start.

As Mr. Lovejoy poured her favorite cereal, Jeanne suddenly froze. Everything started to flow in slow motion. The cereal fell from the box at a sluggish pace, like cotton flakes dropping from the sky. Mr. Lovejoy’s arms swayed up and down slowly as if they were slicing through thick water instead of air.

Jeanne couldn’t believe her eyes. “Am I still dreaming?” The simple task of filling a cereal bowl took forever. She blinked several times, thinking something was probably wrong with her eyes.

Seconds later, everything went back to normal. Mr. Lovejoy finished pouring cereal and milk and casually handed the bowl to Jeanne. She was so distracted that she accidentally dropped the bowl, spilling milk and cereal all over the kitchen table.

“Jeanne!” Mr. Lovejoy exclaimed with laughter as he watched the milk slide across the table and drip on the floor.

“Oops! Sorry for wasting some Cubic-Os, Dad!” Jeanne said.

“Don’t worry, sweetie. It was just an accident,” Mr. Lovejoy said.

Jeanne helped her dad clean up the mess, finished eating her breakfast, and rushed out of the house to meet Luli and Rafa. “I don’t want to be late!”

When Jeanne arrived at Knowledge Castle, Rafa and Luli were already waiting for her at the bottom of the castle’s grand gray staircase. Rafa was wearing a beanie and a sweater with the Pi symbol on it. Luli was wearing jeans, a coat, and a plain scarf.

“Guys!” Jeanne called out, waving.

“Gigi!” Luli shouted back.

“Finally…” Rafa smirked, pretending to grumble. “What took you so long, Gigi? We’ve been waiting for a gazillion hours!”

“Sorry,” Jeanne said. “I had a small breakfast incident at home. I spilled my Cubic-Os all over the kitchen table,” Jeanne explained, forgetting to mention the strange slow-motion episode.

Luli and Rafa cracked up. “That sure sounds like you, Gigi!” Rafa said with a few tears in his eyes.

“By the way, doesn’t Geometreats have the best cereals?” Luli asked. “My favorite is Number Crunchin’ Elliptic-Os.” Jeanne and Rafa nodded.

Rafa turned to Luli and said, “I still can’t believe you convinced us to visit the library on a Sunday!”

“It’ll be fun. I promise!” Luli said with a big grin across her face. She was excited to spend the day with her friends in one of her favorite places.

“How about we start the day with a little race to the top of the staircase?” Rafa challenged Luli and Gigi, sprinting up. “I’ll see you turtles up there!”

“There is no way I’m getting sweaty this early, Rafa,” Jeanne shouted.

“He is always so full of energy! Sometimes I get tired just by looking at him,” Luli said.

Jeanne nodded. “Maybe his last name should be McHurry instead of McNutty.”

Both girls laughed. “Good joke, Gigi,” Luli said. “Mr. Nuttypants can wait.” Jeanne nodded. The girls took their time walking up the castle’s long staircase.

“By the way, I love your coat, Gigi,” Luli said.

“Thanks!” Jeanne smiled. “Grandma gave it to me.”

The girls finally reached the top of the staircase. Rafa stood there with his hands on his hips and a grumpy face. “Finally,” he grumbled.

“Ew, Rafa! You’re all sweaty!” Jeanne said.

“This?” Rafa pointed to his slightly wet sweater. “Come on! This is nothing,” he said, winking and doing some extra jumping jacks.

Luli smiled as she observed Rafa and Jeanne tease each other. All of a sudden, time seemed to reset. Everyone was back at the bottom of the castle’s staircase.

“How about a race to the top? I’ll see you turtles up there,” Rafa repeated.

“There is no way I’m getting sweaty this early,” Jeanne shouted precisely like the first time.

Luli frowned in astonishment, observing Jeanne and Rafa repeat the same activities one by one. “Guys, did we go back in time?” Luli finally asked.