The train station was big and grand, it looked like something out of a fairy tale. No matter how many times I look at it, it always amazes me and considering it was built inside a mountain it still baffles me how no one outside the magic community has yet to discover it.

As we unload our baggage Alfonso was still being supported by his men throwing curses at me as they walked past us.

"Do you think I kicked him a bit too hard?"

I ask Arthur and William with a look of concern.

"Who cares! An ass like him probably deserved it" Art replied gleefully, "where is your sense of sympathy Art?" Bill asks in a rebuking tone. "Oh so now I'm the bad guy. for not feeling sorry for him" Art responded with a tone of irritation.

"Yes! Now take your bags" Bill replied, dangling Art's bag in front of him.

After we've collected our bags we headed to the school, although it was in a cave it was located under a mountain…..it doesn't look or feel like it. You could see the sky and it shows exactly how it is outside. There was a sign above the main gate that read "Minerva Pantheon Academy". This place has been home for me since I turned 11 a few months ago. "Hurry up people, the school gate will be closing in 5 mins!"  a female student who looked like a senior wearing an armband shouted.

She suddenly looked at the three of us.

"I don't think we've met" she suddenly addressed me as I walked in the school gate in front of Art and Bill

"Hi, I'm Simon, Simon Blake." I stuck out my hand as I introduced myself.

"Nice to meet you Simon, I am Elizabeth Cornwall, but my friends call me Lizzie." She shook my hand, and continued "A member of the school disciplinary committee." She pointed to the armband on her left arm.

"Stay out of trouble alright, though seeing who your friends are I doubt that will happen" she turned to look at Art and Bill as she finished.

"Ah Hello Art, Hello Bill, good to see both of you again." She turns to address Art and Bill.

"Hi auntie" Art said skittishly

"WHAAAAAAT?! "I shouted in shock

"She's your aunt?" I turn to Art and shook him

"Yep little Art is my 3rd cousin once removed so that makes him my nephew" Elizabeth said

"Just how many people are you related to Art? I asked him with a look of surprise 

"Errrr……it's not just Art." Bill chimed in

"I am also related to her and I lost count on which relative we were even related to"

"Let's just say…….. our ancestors have a lot of intermarriage and slept with way too many women" Art said looking like I just discovered a secret he doesn't want anyone to know

"So Simon, I'm counting on you to keep Art in line, I lost count how many messy situations he got himself into" she said looking at me.

"I'll try my best." I chuckled softly.

***********

"Hey Art, How come Elizabeth's last name is different even though the both of you are related through the paternal side?" I ask Arthur after we settled down in our dorms

The rest of the day is free for us to do whatever we wanted till lights out at 10pm

"Her family is the cadet branch of my family" Art replied as he's unpacking his stuff into his closet.

"I see, so she's the same generation as your parents?" I begin to pester him for details about his family "Isn't that weird? Like having an aunt a year older than you?"

"Well…I've been growing up with her since young so no it doesn't feel that weird." He replied while putting more clothes into the closet.

"By the way, why were you so skittish around her when we entered the school gate?" I ask while remembering what happened then.

Art stops in his tracks like he just remembered something traumatic.

"Hehe….. so you noticed that" he said with his face starting to glow red.

"It's an embarrassing story…….one I'd rather not talk about" he replied as his face colour recovered.

"Come on, tell me!" I tried to convince him.

"No!" He replied sternly

"Please?!" I begged

"No! Drop it Si! I'm serious." He replied getting angrier

"All right all right I'll stop asking" I backed off realising I might have touched a nerve if I'd continue to press him for details

"I'm going to take a shower to cool down" he said leaving with a towel and fresh clothes

"Alright, I'll see you at dinner" I replied.

Arthur's POV

"Damnit Simon! How insensitive can you be?!" Was what I thought to myself as I was walking to the bathroom with my towel, soap and shampoo.

When I opened the bathroom I bumped into Alfonso who looked like he just got out of the bath, "Well, well, look who it is! Where's the peasant? Did you come here to wash off the filth he got on you?" He said mockingly the moment he saw me.

Still being irritated from Simon's insensitivity I said in a deep growling voice "I'm not in the mood for your games Alfonso, if you know what's good for you walk away."

"Woah, woah, woah!" He raised his hands up as he continued "I have no quarrel from a member of my "extended family", in fact" he put his arm around my neck. "I'm wondering if you'd care to join me in school from now on. Ditch that peasant he's a nobody, an adopted son who will never be accepted by the nobles. Blood IS thicker than water right? cousin…."

I don't know if he knows what happened in my room or not but the timing he said all this was impeccable. but I made a promise to Mr Chrono to always be by Simon's side and Simon for all his faults has been like a little brother to me, even though we are the same age.

"Blood is thicker than water huh?" I said 

"You get it don't you?!" He replied with his arm still around my neck. "So you have to…..

"Alfonso!" I interrupted him before elbowing and throwing him onto the ground.

"I will not join an arrogant airhead who doesn't know how to respect people for who they are, even IF they are "family".

As he lay there stunned by the fact he was thrown, I added "and by the way, Simons’ family more than you could ever be" I finished and headed to the shower room.