[b]Gideon, Katsu, Miriel (mentioned), Gardening Club (cameo), Flying Club (cameo)[/b]

After swimming his extra lap, Gideon hauled himself out of the pool. He was not tired - water tended to make him feel more energized - but depressed.
"Hey, kid" He turned to see Katsu. "You did well out there today. You'll improve with time." Gideon shrugged, but was secretly pleased by the encouragement. It seemed he was not a [i]total[/i] failure after all. At the very least, Miriel couldn't win every time they raced - she wasn't even one of the best swimmers.

He changed quickly and left the building, pausing momentarily to watch a group of winged students circling just in view above the stadium. They seemed so graceful. Gideon wondered if there were any Aurae (wind nymphs) at the academy, and if they could phase into air as he could into water. 

Ad he wandered back through the gardens, he noticed a group of students - mainly dryads and other plant-related creatures - tending to some strange plants. He often wished he could phase into the water of a plant, but it would have to be the size of a tree to accommodate his mass. Anyhow, the plant's auras protected them from naiads, with dryads being the only spirits able to enter vegetation (with the possible exception of poltergeists).

In any case, the strange plants intrigued him, and he wandered over to find out more.