Unveiling Elden Ring's Enigmatic Character Melina: The Ultimate Mystery

Elden Ring has emerged as a game that holds immense influence within its generation, and the captivating world of The Lands Between lies at its core. With a stunningly crafted setting, it has maintained its cultural significance since its initial release, captivating players for over a year. Amidst the challenges posed by formidable enemies and treacherous terrains, a nuanced narrative acts as the binding force, seamlessly connecting all the elements. The lore of Elden Ring has become the most extensively dissected in its genre, with its poignant yet enigmatic characters serving as its lifeblood.

The cast of characters in Elden Ring's The Lands Between is extensive, but the stories they inhabit often amount to more than mere fragments of direct exposition. It is characteristic of the "Soulsborne" genre to deliver its lore through subtle hints scattered throughout the game's levels, and Elden Ring's post-apocalyptic landscape upholds this tradition. As players embark on their quest to overcome the demigods and claim the title of Elden Lord, a vivid portrayal of the power struggle surrounding the Golden Order unfolds. However, there is one significant character who defies understanding, leaving room for interpretation regardless of how diligently the player searches for details.

Melina’s Uncanny Connection to Ranni

One recurring theme in FromSoftware's RPGs is the presence of a maiden character who aids the player, and Melina fulfills this role in Elden Ring. She may initially appear to be a mere NPC who enables the Tarnished to level up, akin to the Maiden in Black from Demon's Souls, the Doll from Bloodborne, or the Emerald Herald from Dark Souls 2. However, as the narrative of Elden Ring unfolds, every aspect of the world is given context and lore, except for Melina. She rarely becomes directly involved in the story, leading one to suspect that she is more than just a selfless maiden.

Melina can be seen as a counterpart to Ranni the Witch, both acting against the Greater Will. If the player follows Ranni's questline, they encounter opposition to the Greater Will, which is reminiscent of Melina's decision to empower a Tarnished with Runes. Additionally, Ranni is a spectral being inhabiting a doll body, while Melina appears to be the transparent manifestation of a "true" spirit that accompanies this doll. Melina, like the fake Finger Maiden, also seems to be an intangible apparition. However, this parallel is never acknowledged within the entirety of the game.

Is Melina the Alter Ego of the Gloam-Eyed Queen?

Speculation abounds, but the truth remains elusive: are Ranni and Melina truly sisters or different manifestations of a single entity? Clues to Melina's enigmatic origin lie in her cryptic recollections, a history that might hold the key to the entire storyline of Elden Ring. In a revealing moment, Melina confesses to the player that she was born within the sacred Erdtree, bestowed with purpose by her mother, strongly hinting that she is an Empyrean, born of Queen Marika. This revelation is further reinforced by Melina's revelation that her ethereal form is the consequence of her very physical being being consumed by flames, a fate that Ranni too has suffered.

The Gloam-Eyed Queen, popularly referred to as the Dusk-eyed Queen, is a character whose significance in the events leading up to Elden Ring cannot be overstated. Despite this, she is only mentioned in item descriptions. It is believed that she once possessed control over Destined Death until Marika intervened and claimed this power for herself, ultimately giving rise to the deathless world that is witnessed in Elden Ring. The Gloam-Eyed Queen is credited with giving birth to the order of the Godskin, endowing them with the formidable power of the Black Flame – a force capable of vanquishing even the most powerful of gods, back when death still permeated existence.

The Godskins, capable of causing death even to the half-divine children of Marika, played a role in the formation of the deathless Golden Order in Elden Ring. The powerful Black Flame, known for its ability to burn through anything when the Rune of Death was present, shares similarities with the Frenzied Flame in Elden Ring. By choosing the dark path and attaining the Flame of Frenzy ending, players will encounter an unexpected conflict with Melina, providing insight into her true nature as the Gloam-Eyed Queen.

If the gods of The Lands Between seized power through force, it is plausible that Marika and her beast companion could have launched an attack on the ruling Gloam-Eyed Queen and claimed the ancient version of the Elden Ring found in Crumbling Farum Azula. With the Rune of Death hidden until the Night of Black Knives, the Gloam-Eyed Queen would have been defeated alongside her version of the Erdtree, leaving her "burnt and bodiless." The emergence of Melina could be seen as a form of "birth," resulting from the spirit's manifestation into this new body.

Initially, Ranni and Melina may have appeared to be sisters, but their connection goes beyond family ties. Ranni, the true mastermind behind the Night of Black Knives, orchestrated the event that caused Godwyn's near-death experience. Fueling this operation was Ranni's theft of a fragment of the Rune of Death. The deadly power contained within the Black Knives was bestowed upon them by Ranni, who may have needed to absorb this power into herself before distributing it.

Ranni's physical body bears the marks of the Cursemark of Death, burned and scarred. It is possible that her spirit has also been affected in a similar manner. Melina's ghostly attachment to Ranni could be a remnant of her presence within the Rune of Death, which has become tightly intertwined with the witch over time. The true nature of Melina's character remains a mystery, as FromSoftware has withheld that information. However, players can look forward to the upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, which promises to delve deeper into the expansive lore of Elden Ring.

Elden Ring is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.