Long ago when the world and nature untamed, there lived a mortal woman named Melusina. A simple farmer of the lands, Melusina was neither a beauty nor particularly righteous, but she was a hard worker who fiercely loved her family and friends and dreamed of one day having children of her own. She was admired in return, but never did a worthy lover appear to claim her.
One fateful autumn evening, as Melusina had finished harvesting her crops near the river, a mysterious figure suffering grievous wounds washed ashore. Rushing to the aid of what appeared to be a woman, Melusina discovered a captivating being of incomparable beauty and glory. Truly, this must be a goddess! Hurriedly binding the wounds, Melusina carried the goddess to her own home.
Throughout the winter, Melusina nursed this wounded goddess, caring for her wounds and trying to restore her to health. Come the arrival of spring, fate came to claim its due. Alas, Melusina’s mortal skill was insufficient to heal divinely inflicted wounds, which had begun to fester. As the goddess lay dying, she acknowledged Melusina’s noble heart and granted her own spark of divinity to Melusina. “As all must die, so also must the next generation live.”
The goddess died, and Melusina was reborn, ascending to take her place among the divine.