[b]Those under the Tree[/b]

Gideon's jaw dropped open. A momentary glance towards the stream had revealed a tower of water rising, seemingly of its own accord, above the head of the harpy-phoenix girl hiding behind the Frost Giant. That being strange enough, the situation had now become even more bizarre as the tower decided to collapse onto the head of the nagini. Wait, the nagini. Those snake-people thingies. Gideon could remember them from nymph school, about five years ago;
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[b]Memories[/b]

[i]The teacher rise up the texbook again, indicating to an image of a strange, human/snake hybrid.

"Now class, what's this?"
"A nagini!" 
"And what does it do?"
"Control water!"
"Well done. Now, go and have a seaweed cookie!"
"Yaaaaaay!"[/i]
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Shaking himself back to the present, the naiad slunk out of the crowd of students and towards the stream. It bubbled and trickled over the rocks on its bed - even if it was artificial, it seemed natural enough. Kneeling down, he held out his hand to the water and pushed down. 

Instead of toppling forward, a strange transformation took place. The water appeared to run [i]up[/i] his arm, flowing over his skin, clothing, everything. But this wasn't the end. The water appeared to take the place of his body, his limbs becoming eerily see through and reflective. At last, a human-shaped body, made entirely of water, crouched down where the boy had been.

Clambering to his feet (no easy task when you are composed entirely of liquid), he stood up straight and looked around. Everything appeared slightly wobbly and out of focus, as if watching through a veil of water. Decided, he marched back over to the group and tapped the nagini, who was deep in conversation with Andrej, on the shoulder.

"Hello, I don't think we've met. My name is Gideon, and I am a naiad."