"Here we are!" Mrs. Hoffend called as we approached the city, "I think Tareche's living on the outskirts of the town nowadays. He's getting a bit old, and cranky, for city life."

"One sec, I was wondering one thing," I asked curiously as we walked through another street, "you speak of Tareche like you know him, not that he's some person you've only heard of,"

"Well, he's old, very old. I remember, he lived in our village and he used to tell all the children his war sTalies. He actually used to own a house across the street from us when I was still in my single digits of age. He was like my fun dad, if you know what I mean. My real father wasn't always there for me, he always seemed to be out working. This is why I try to stay home with you, Thalia, instead of just going out and earning a bit more money. So, he was kinda like a comfort through my childhood."

"Wow, I had no idea..." Thalia exclaimed, obviously surprised.

"So, why didn't you tell us earlier?" I asked, confused.

"Well, you see, Tareche wasn't the safest of people. He accidentally burned his house down once, as well as other smaller...slightly smaller things."

"Well, let's go meet your godfather!" I yelled, trying to liven up the mood.

"Well, why not? I think he lives up this path," Mrs. Hoffend said, pointing to a dirt pathway tangenting off to the side of the city. We followed that path through a small grove of trees until we finally came to a small house. I knocked on the door, hoping that someone on the other side would give me some answers.

"Eh, Hello? Who is it?" A raspy voice was coming from inside.

"Tareche, It's Amanda, do you remember?"

"Who?" The voice said as the door swung open, "Ah!! Hoffend!"

"Yes! It's so great to see you again, Tareche!" Amanda said, going up and hugging him.

Tareche was a fairly old green turtle like creature with a red shell on his back. He seemed very young if he was actually an adult while Amanda was only a child.

"How long's it been, Amy?" Tareche asked.

"13 years, since we last saw each other, and 104 since you moved from the town."

"Wait, you're 104?" I asked. I knew of no one who lived over 100 at this time, let alone someone who looked that young.

Tareche laughed, "Well, some monsters have a certain, um, ability. Basically, we mature to 'bout age 20 and then stop aging until we have a child that grows up. All monoble families have it," A monoble family is what we call a noble family of monsters, which were very uncommon at this time. "There is also a small chance of commoners, like me, to have it.

"So, how old are you, Tareche?" Thalia asked.

"Oh, old, very old. I had my son about 40 years ago, and I hadn't been 40 for a very long time when I did."

"So, what about Thalia's mom, she does not look 104, and yet she doesn't look 20 either, no offense or anything."

"Well, with monobles the trait gets passed down through the first born and the rest of the children have about a ⅓ chance to have the power, while the first born child of commoners with this power do age about 75% slower if they didn't have a baby, but still age."

"Also," Amanda called out, "If you have a baby with a monoble, you will stop aging until that baby is of age. Like, if you ever marry the Graysons' unborn son, he'll probably have the trait because the Graysons are so close to the monster representative on the royal council."

"I do have one more question." I said, once Amy was done, "Why do only nobles pass down the trait? I mean, if Thalia declared herself a noble right now, she wouldn't get the ability, would she?"

"Well," Amanda interjected again, " It's not that they are nobles so they got the power, more... they had the power so they became nobles."

"Anyway," Tareche replied, I doubt you came here just because you wanted to learn about how long monsters live, did you?"

"Well, yeah," I replied and explained everything that happened.

"Oh, wow, well then, I may be able to answer some questions, just come over here," Tareche said, pretty astonished, and Ushering to a door.

As we walked through the door, Tareche abruptly turned around and pushed Amy out of the room, saying, "Oh, no no no, you can't be in here Amy, I'm sorry. It's a bit private."

"Well, okay Tareche, you've never let me down before. I'll go see G I guess, here's the address, come meet me when you're done." Amy replied, a bit shocked, and gave Thalia a piece of paper.

Tareche then promptly shut the door, us on the inside, Amy on the outside. Looking around, I saw a small circular torchlit room, with no windows, a fireplace on one side, many different raised cupboards, a wooden counter under each, with a long stone table in the middle.

"Why couldn't my mom be in the room?" Thalia asked.

"Oh, she's an adult. She's obligated to do things if she finds out. And you know, they're just trouble."

"Well, you're in here," I replied, half sarcastically.

"Yes, but I never truly grew up." Tareche

"Ok Ok Ok, let's do this, we have a lot to do in a very short time." he said.