The Fortress of Sogut, 1299
Vezir Alemsah shouts out throughout the fortress courtyard. "We have charged you with high treason against our great sultan of our nation, Osman Ghazi." "Do you have any last words you would like to say before you die?"
Osman takes a deep breath, standing tall despite the weight of the accusation. He looks up at Alemsah, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "Vezir Alemsah, I do not fear death. If it is treason to stand for what I believe in, then I accept my fate. But know this: my loyalty lies with the people of this land, not just the throne. I have fought for their freedom and will continue to do so, even if it costs me my life." His gaze hardens as he continues, "If I must die today, let it be for a cause greater than myself. Let my sacrifice be a spark that ignites the flame of true justice in this realm."
Vezir Alemsah responded with a cold, measured tone, "Yes, you are, Osman. Yes, you are. But I'm afraid you're not going to live long enough to find out." He turned his gaze to the guard, a serious expression etched on his face. "Guards, put the noose around his neck and make sure it's secured tightly around his neck."
The guard, dutifully following Alemsah's command, tightened the noose further. "Yes, Lord Alemsah!" he affirmed, ready to carry out the grim order. The atmosphere was thick with tension as the final moments of Osman Ghazi's fate loomed.
The guard put the noose around Osman Ghazi's neck, tightening it as ordered. Osman's eyes flickered with defiance even in the face of impending doom. "May my sacrifice be a spark that ignites the flame of true justice in this realm," he declared, his voice unwavering despite the circumstances.
The guard then said, "We're ready, Vezir!"
Alemsah then turned to Osman, asking, "Do you have any last words?"
Osman replied with full confidence, "Just one. I swear, no matter what, Alemsah. I will kill you. Furthermore, I promise you this. Besides, I will kill you, Alemsah."
With a cold glint in his eyes, Alemsah gave the order to pull the lever. The heavy wooden platform creaked ominously as the mechanism was activated, sealing Osman's fate.
As the lever was pulled, Osman felt the noose tighten around his neck, constricting his breath and sending a wave of panic through his body. The pressure was suffocating, and he struggled to draw in air as his vision began to blur. The world around him faded into a haze, but he fought to maintain his composure, clinging to the last remnants of his defiance.
With each passing moment, the weight of the noose pressed harder, and he could feel his heart racing in a futile attempt to compensate for the lack of oxygen. Alemsah's cold gaze bore into him, a haunting reminder of the fate that awaited him. Osman's thoughts raced, recalling the promise he had made. He would not surrender to fear; he would not let Alemsah win.
In his fading consciousness, he focused on the words he had spoken, the vow of vengeance that would persist beyond this moment. As the darkness encroached, a figure emerged from the shadows, swiftly grabbing Osman from the noose and carrying him away from the fortress at an astonishing speed.
When Alemsah saw that someone had stepped in to save Osman and vanished into the night, his annoyance boiled over. Enraged, he ordered his soldiers to find them. "Spread out! Search every corner of the forest and the surrounding area. I want them found!" His voice echoed through the fortress, filled with a fierce determination. He could not allow this act of defiance to go unpunished. The vow of vengeance he had witnessed in Osman's fading consciousness would not be the only one that persisted; Alemsah's resolve to reclaim his power and crush his enemies would burn brighter than ever. As his soldiers rushed out into the darkness, Alemsah's mind raced with thoughts of retribution. He would not rest until Osman was captured again, and this time, there would be no escape.
Outside of Sogut, ten miles away, Philippe, carrying Osman, found himself in a field and laid him on the ground. Osman continued to struggle to breathe, gasping for air as he lay on the cool earth. Philippe, worried and desperate, knelt beside him, trying to assess the situation. "Stay with me, Osman," he urged, his voice filled with urgency. As he looked around, the darkness seemed to close in, amplifying the tension of their predicament.
In a moment of desperation, Philippe bit into his, allowing his vampire blood to flow out. He hoped that somehow, this would give Osman the strength he needed to fight for survival. The crimson liquid pooled on the ground, glistening in the faint light of the moon. "Please, take it," Philippe pleaded, pressing his arm closer to Osman's lips.
Osman hesitated for a moment, staring at the blood that shimmered with an otherworldly allure. With a deep breath, he leaned forward and began to suck on Philippe's blood. Almost immediately, he felt a surge of energy coursing through him, but it was quickly followed by an intense pain that shot through his veins like fire.
He gasped, his body convulsing as the dual sensations battled within him—one of power and the other of agony. "What is happening?" he managed to gasp, struggling to keep his grip on reality. The darkness around him seemed to pulse and throb, mirroring the tumult inside him.
Philippe's face twisted with concern. "It's the transformation," he replied urgently. "You have to fight through it! Embrace the strength, Osman!"
Osman clenched his teeth, trying to focus on the warmth spreading through him despite the pain. He could feel the darkness attempting to pull him under, but then he began to transform into a vampire.
But then Philippe told Osman.