Undine

"Undine" by Friedrich Heinrich Karl La Motte-Fouqué is a 19th-century romantic fairy tale about a water sprite named Undine and her interactions with humans, most importantly, Sir Huldbrand of Ringstetten. It is filled with love, sacrifice, and the search for a human soul, exploring what it means to be human using supernatural elements. The story starts with a beautiful cottage by a lake, where a fisherman and his old wife live, and their quiet life is interrupted when a knight, Sir Huldbrand, asks for shelter. That night, they talk about their adopted daughter, Undine, who appears to be a lovely but strange water spirit. Undine's mysterious past and connection to the water are alluded to, and the knight is becoming more and more interested in her, setting up adventures and difficulties for both of them down the road.