With a few options presented to you already, you decide to ask if greater demons are the only ones who can help you communicate with souls.

Lexicon Anathema: "Of course not — but there is a difference between learning how to do it yourself, and receiving that knowledge directly. Both take time. Only, the latter doesn't take yours.

When someone transfers knowledge unto you, that knowledge is lost to them; it has to be learned again. And so, I recommend that you ask a creature for whom giving it away is a trivial matter.

Truthfully, any divine being would do — greater demons, primordials, even lords of creation — but each is less likely to help you than the last."

Honourshine: "And you are certain these greater demons can, and will share this knowledge?"

Lexicon Anathema: "For a price, like I said. But yes; the language of souls is intuitive to divine beings — just like facial expressions are to you. It's of little value; the better for them."

You nod, and thank Lexicon Anathema for the explanation. Then, growing curious, you ask how a filly such as herself came to know so much.

Lexicon Anathema: "Nh? Can't a filly read a book?"

In response to the demon's unfaltering straight face, you attempt to rephrase your question and instead ask her if she truly is as young as she looks.

Lexicon Anathema: "I am immortal. What appearance do you expect me to have?"

You pause. As you think it over, along with what you've learned about alicorns, you realize that you do not know how immortal creatures age.

Lexicon Anathema: "We don't. Newborns stay the way they are until they eventually learn how to transform. The rest is cultural; we demons typically only choose to grow up when we reach certain levels of power."

Moonflower: "Ooh! Can you transform into anything?"

Lexicon Anathema: "No, only versions of myself. This isn't like a Disguise spell, or even an Age spell; I truly am what you see. But changing one's body is a costly process used by demons to establish a societal hierarchy and little else."

And as a hermit, Lexicon Anathema opted to remain as a filly, you conclude.

Lexicon Anathema: "It has its advantages: being smaller means I need fewer resources, take up less space."

Honourshine: "Still, do you not have a cutie mark?"

Lexicon Anathema: "Oh, I do, but it represents obscure knowledge, and so it's the same colour as my coat."

You try squinting through the darkness, but cannot seem to find any noticeable patterns on the filly's flank. Only then do you realize—

Lexicon Anathema: "Made you look."

Moonflower: "Heeheehee...!"

Despite Lexicon Anathema's dry delivery, it seems you are not the only comedian in the room. You take another sip of your tea, and find that your cup has almost gone empty.