Chapter 13 – Aistride and the Mocktail Mishap
It was just supposed to be casual company, right?
Did they really need to take it to her room?
Dillin was perplexed—despite this body being physiologically male, venturing into a young lady’s chambers still felt inappropriate. In both his past life and this one, he’d never invited a member of the opposite s*x back to his quarters without serious intent.
Was she still hung up on those feelings for him?
As Dillin followed Aistride, he let her drag him into her room. It felt different stepping into Aistride’s space with this body, strangely familiar yet novel.
The delicate waft of lavender greeted him as he entered, an intoxicating fragrance that was soothing to the soul but stirred something restless in his chest. His senses were on edge, his palm warm from hers, which was still wrapped firmly around his fingers. He realized he was blushing, caught in the moment with this Elf Girl.
What was happening to him? Hadn’t he seen it all before in another life? Why was he acting like an awkward teenager stepping into a girl’s room for the first time, his ears burning red?
Shaking his head, Dillin mused how switching bodies seemed to have changed even his thoughts. Though recovering his memories had many advantages, it also brought fresh concerns. He thought about how to address Aistride’s feelings for him.
After regaining his full understanding of the situation, it was clear that Aistride held more than a friendly fancy towards Dillin.
Being liked by a human was one thing—maybe just a passing crush—but if an elf got attached, it could get complicated. Elves lacked the concept of a “first love.” Once they cared for someone, it was forever, unwavering loyalty through all eternity.
And if an elf loved someone who did not love them back, they would still dedicate their whole lives to that person without ever remarrying or pursuing another.
Dillin worried that letting Aistride cling to these feelings for a nonexistent version of himself would derail her life forever. So, as an elder—sort of—he felt it his duty to gently guide her back on the right path, away from this doomed affection.
He’d considered telling her the truth but dreaded the impact. Knowing that the person she loved didn’t actually exist might crush her. It would feel no different from losing that person forever.
Dillin felt conflicted about revealing the truth and thus kept delaying it, hoping for some way to resolve the situation delicately. Meanwhile, her room remained pristine, with a light floral scent that was distinctly Aistride’s own.
But things were different now that he’d entered as Tillysha, not himself. Dillin awkwardly stood near the center of the room when he realized something—she had no seating except the bed. He certainly couldn’t sit on that.
Girls tended to have standards, and Dillin had seen enough to know. What he saw next confirmed it was a bad idea coming in at all.
Her bed was adorned with items of clothing—most notably, a couple of thigh-high stockings draped over the edge, slipping precariously down. Worse, there were some intimate pieces in plain sight.
“Maybe I should leave and come back later?” Dillin suggested, embarrassed.
“No need,” Aistride dismissed lightly, quickly tidying up when she noticed his discomfort, though Dillin still felt she wasn’t her normal self.
“Just sit on the bed.”
“And I’m off to freshen up.”
With those words, Aistride entered the bathroom, and after moments of rustling, water gushed like bells ringing from a clear stream. Dillin was left standing there puzzled.
She said she wanted to talk, right? Why shower now? Didn’t she care an outsider was present?
Caught between leaving and staying, Dillin tentatively sat at the edge of the bed where those stockings hung teasingly, still warm from her presence. He turned his gaze elsewhere, ears attuned to the dripping sounds emanating from the bathroom, finding the situation increasingly awkward.
The water ceased abruptly, replaced with the creak of the door. Out came Aistride, her silver hair damp and tumbling over her shoulders. Dressed merely in a robe with droplets trickling down her milky white skin, she radiated innocence and allure.
“Ah, perhaps I’ll leave while you change,” Dillin began, standing only to be pulled back down firmly by the wrist.
“Aistride? What’s going on?”
Instead of answering, she locked the door, her usually aloof and restrained gaze now melting with something far more intense and seductive. This was not the Aistride he recognized.
“What’s wrong, Aistride? Is everything okay?”
“Of course, it’s for…” She trailed, lowering her gaze mischievously.
Approaching him, she placed her hands on his shoulders with an electrified touch before leaning in. Her voice dripped with flirtation, her violet eyes shimmering with unrestrained desire.
“There you go being so distant when you play these games with me. Don’t pretend ignorance.”
“What games? Wait—”
With a swift motion, she pushed him onto the bed, straddling him with practiced ease. His mind raced trying to comprehend the turn of events.
“You’ve been tormenting me,” she whispered silkily, her body pressing closer. Aistride, so unlike her usual high and mighty self, now radiated a fiery passion.
“Not sure what you’re talking about…” Dillin protested weakly. He hadn’t done anything intentionally to incite such reactions. How did things escalate so quickly?
“Oh, stop pretending,” she chided, her sultry tone teasing yet commanding. Every word made his situation more precarious.
“You’ve got me here… would you like to see how far I’m willing to go?” she teased, her fingers tracing his collar with practiced ease.
This wasn’t the Aistride he knew. He tried to reason, “You’re not yourself, let’s stop—”
But instead of relenting, she worked faster, peeling away his shirt as if her actions were irreversible and necessary.
“What—where did you learn this language?”
“Didn’t you teach me?” she questioned innocently. “I’ve been watching, yearning…”
Dillin sighed inwardly, “Alright, who has been whispering these ideas into your head?”
Golden light swirled, signaling Tillysha’s form, surprising Aistride.
“Hey there, where’d Dillin disappear?”
Aistride blinked, confused but soon her primal instincts ruled. The scent of Tillysha reminded her of Dillin’s soul—irresistible.
“Oh well, gender switch? No problem.”
Aistride lunged at Tillysha, eager to continue their entanglement, blissfully unaware of the danger in front of her. However, before she could accomplish much, Tillysha smirked and delivered a swift blow to Aistride’s gut. With a gasp of disbelief followed by an abrupt unconsciousness, Aistride slumped gracelessly against Tillysha who simply smiled and said,
“Mocktails indeed ruin everything.”
