Cairo, 1912. Several decades have passed since the Sudanese mystic al-Jahiz opened the gate between the magical and earthly worlds, letting jinn into everyday life... and disappeared. Now Egypt is a superpower where magic and technology coexist, and the colonial ambitions of other countries are held in check by new forces. A secret brotherhood has focused on the history and search for artefacts related to al-Jahiz. One day, members of the brotherhood are mysteriously murdered...