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Sage
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The Second Awakening
Months had passed since Finn revealed to his brothers and sister the existence of a second stage of their power.
Hope became their fuel — the hope that one day, they would no longer have to fear Mikael.
Each of them trained relentlessly, yearning to evolve.
Yet deep inside, Finn was almost certain: Mikael had already reached his second stage.
Since there were already the Alpha werewolves, Finn gathered his siblings and decided to name this new stage the Noble form.
Rebekah was the first to ascend.
Her element was Air — a power that felt stolen, ethereal, unpredictable. She soon sought Kol and Finn's help to craft spells around her newfound element.
Elijah followed.
His element was Water. Unlike Kol, Finn, or Rebekah, he couldn't use his power for spellcraft — only for control.
He learned to bend water and shape its many sub-elements, yet none were sophisticated — it was pure elemental command, simple and raw.
Niklaus, however, was the last.
The hybrid grew restless, nearly consumed by despair as he failed time and again to awaken his Noble form.
Despair turned into fury, and fury into isolation. He snapped at his siblings, even Rebekah, whenever they tried to reach him.
In the end, Finn had to put him in his place — firmly but as an elder brother should.
He forced Niklaus to reconnect with the family, until one day, through long meditation guided by Finn, Niklaus finally broke through.
But his awakening was unlike any other.
Where others found their elements within, Niklaus saw something.
A vision of a burning wolf — engulfed in fire, crying in agony.
When he reached out and helped the creature, the flames left its body and became his own.
Finn theorized that the wolf represented Niklaus's werewolf side, and the fire — his vampiric nature.
By saving the wolf, Niklaus had finally balanced both halves of himself.
His element was Fire — fierce, consuming, powerful — yet like Elijah, he couldn't use it for spellcraft, only for elemental mastery.
It was then Finn understood: the reason he, Kol, and Rebekah could use their elements magically was because they had been born witches — unlike Elijah and Niklaus, who inherited their fathers' mortal blood.
When all powers were revealed, tension returned.
Niklaus sought to be the Alpha, driven by his lingering beastly instincts.
Elijah, burdened by guilt toward his brother, also challenged Finn's authority.
Elijah had been the family's leader. Now, with Finn assuming command without protest, bitterness festered.
Eventually, Finn crushed both rebellions.
He subdued Elijah and broke Niklaus's arrogance until even the wolf within him recognized Finn as Alpha.
A century passed.
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Finn: "As always, Elijah, you handle the Nobles. The rest are my children."
Elijah: "Understood. How long will we stay here?"
Finn: "About four years."
Rebekah: "And Mikael?"
Finn: "He won't be close for a while."
Niklaus: "How can you be sure?"
Finn: "I've placed some obstacles to keep him entertained. Now, let's go."
Siblings: "Yes, Father."
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They settled quickly. Finn purchased a house; Elijah handled diplomacy, manipulating and making pacts with the local Nobles to avoid conflict.
Then, one night, while passing by a tavern, Finn saw her.
A red-haired woman — breathtaking, hauntingly familiar.
Someone he had loved in another life.
Someone who had died because of his recklessness, despite her loyalty for over nine hundred years.
Part of him wished to leave her be — to let her live a human life, free and happy, so her soul could finally rest in paradise.
But another part of him… wanted her close. Forever.
He lost himself in that thought, unaware of someone approaching.
??: "Hello, stranger. Looking for an hour? You've been staring quite a bit."
Her voice was soft, almost shy, as she leaned closer.
Finn's eyes widened.
The memory struck like lightning — her name, her voice, the pain of losing her. And yet, something about her now made him uneasy, something he had forgotten.
Finn: "Hello, beautiful. What's your name?"
Sage: "I'm Sage. You seemed interested… looking for company?"
Finn: "More than that. Sit with me — have a drink."
Sage: "I can't. I'm working."
There was bitterness in her tone.
Finn: "A woman as lovely and gentle as you shouldn't be working here. You should be married to a decent man."
His words were kind, measured — close enough to comfort, but not to alarm her.
Sage: "Don't talk like you know my life. If I could, I'd leave this place. Damn it…"
Her voice cracked. She looked around nervously — everyone in the tavern was staring now.
She shrank back in fear.
Finn: "If you could?"
He noticed the bruises on her arms — rope marks.
Then he remembered.
Sage had been a slave when he first met her — forced into prostitution by her masters.
The rage returned.
A heavy hand slammed onto the table.
??: "Is there a problem here? This girl bothering you, sir?"
A massive man, nearly two meters tall, glared down at them.
Sage froze, choking on fear, taking a step back and stammering to defend herself.
Finn: "Her name's Sage, isn't it? Who's her master? I can see she's a slave — I'll buy her."
??: "Another fool in love, huh? She's not for sale."
The man's eyes burned with hatred as he looked at Sage.
Sage: "Please, sir, stop… you're making it worse."
Tears welled in her eyes.
Finn's expression darkened.
In a flash, he grabbed the man by the throat, pulling him down with such force that bones cracked.
Finn: "You're speaking to me — not her. Look at me when you answer. Understood?"
??: "Y-yes… I'm sorry…"
The man whimpered in pain as Finn's grip tightened.
Sage touched his arm, trembling.
Sage: "Please, stop. I'm grateful… but his boss is a sorcerer. He'll kill you. I'm not worth it."
She sobbed into Finn's arm, while others watched in terror.
Several men drew their swords, but Finn squeezed harder, unmoved.
Then, a dark force filled the room — invisible, pressing against Finn's neck, trying to twist it.
??: "Well, well… if it isn't my most troublesome little whore."
A man in extravagant robes entered, and the crowd bowed their heads in fear.
Some hesitated to attack, waiting for a sign.
???: "Matias! Grab that slut and take her to the dungeon. I'll make sure she never forgets her place again!"
The venom in his voice was pure rage.
Matias: "Boss… help me!"
The giant gasped, voice fading — his eyes widened in disbelief.
??: "What—? I killed you!"
Finn: "You'll have to try harder than that."
Finn smiled coldly and hurled Matias into the sorcerer, both crashing to the floor.
In an instant, Finn was upon them, lifting each by the throat as if they weighed nothing.
??: "W-what are you…?"
The sorcerer choked, trying to cast a spell, but Finn didn't even flinch.
Then the memories returned fully.
The last time he had met Sage, she'd been punished to the brink of death — and the sorcerer had broken her neck.
Finn had slain the man, but too late.
To save her, he had turned her.
This time, he would not fail her again.
Finn: "Your worst nightmare."
With a single twist, he broke both their necks.
Silence fell.
The soldiers who had raised their swords lowered them, trembling.
They didn't know what he was — only that he had destroyed the monsters they had been sent to kill.
Their job was done. They fled.
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Finn turned back to Sage and offered his hand.
Finn: "Will you come with me?"
Sage: "Yes…"
Tears streamed down her face as she took his hand — the hand of her savior.
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