Karim Bahman
The peaceful city of Cario is overflowing with knowledge and culture that is quite different from that found in Isfahan. It seems that with every grain of sand that sits among the dunes, another wonder could be found within the diamond of Egypt. With a city as grand as this, there was so much to see and very little time to see it. So, the moment that Karim's feet hit the warm sand of the Sahara, he was inching to go exploring.
As Karim walked among the city of a thousand minarets, his steps were full of excitement as he wander through the streets. The youth's umber eyes were glued to the historic Egyptian architecture, admiring the craftsmanship. It was hard for him to believe that all of it was built in the middle of a desert. Karim spent many days simply sitting on a bench, drawing several of the elaborately decorated mosques and palaces.
When Karim spotted the famed pyramids along the horizon, he quickly hired a guide to accompany him on his journey. As the pair rode to the tombs on the backs of camels, he felt his break being sucked out of his check at their imposing beauty. It was much better than anything he could have imagined and certainly better than the description he had read in books. He had spent the whole day exploring as much of the pyramids as he was able, before returning home with a feeling of immense joy.
This was the first time in his life he was able to do as he pleased, without having to concern himself with what was best for his future or what his father expected of him. It was freeing in every sense of the word. He could finally pursue any passion he fancied, or simply spend his time in leisure. And, although most of his endeavors were still scholarly, he still enjoyed that he was able to make his own decisions, and never had to listen to someone else's rules.
Eventually, the day came to finally meet the other members of the guild. He had heard of the expedition to Waki-Tal while sightseeing. The only information he really knew about the place was the famed silk road, the rest was vague stories from the diaries of traders. But, despite its elusiveness, to Karim, it seemed like the perfect place to begin his travels and elude any family that might be hoping to drag him back home.
While Karim made his way through the bazaar towards the designated location, he often stopped to examine the rare commodities and listen to the street performers. As he passed stalls that held barrels of spices, their scent tickled his nose. Although it smelled delicious, he soon found himself sneezing and strolling further into the market.
As his eyes caught the vibrant color of woven rugs, he paused while his fingers danced over the fabric. If this had been back home, he would have instructed one of his attendants to purchase it. But, with his freedom, meant he must be more frugal than before. With a gentle smile to the owner of the stand, Karim continued on.
When he finally exited the bazaar, he found himself in a less savory part of town. The building appeared in poor condition, and there were many more beggars sitting on the side of the streets here. However, Karim tried not to pay them any mind. Even when street urchins called out to him, he simply started to walk faster until he was able to gain some distance. Though, Karim found himself weaving through the streets with his head down, not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention to himself
In the end, it was starting to get dark by the time he spotted the Bayt Farouq. Karim was eager to meet his fellow guild members as he quickly headed inside, dodging the drunk patrons outside. As he pulled open the door, his nose was assaulted with the overwhelming scent of alcohol and smoke. The youth let out a weak cough, stepping inside as he looked around.
It was seedier than he had expected and seemed to be occupied mostly by suspicious-looking characters. As Karim inched himself forward, a long arm reached around his shoulder. The Persian tensed, looking over to see the sultry smile of a woman. "Can I get you a drink?" She asked. Karim tried to squirm out of her grip, but she held him tight.
"N-no, thank you. I'm just looking for some people…" He replied his face turning red. It was difficult not to notice the woman's immodest dress. Though, as he peeked around the room, it seemed that it was common. Still, it wasn't something that Karim was used to backing home.
"That's too bad, you would have more fun with me." The woman responded in a seductive voice, her fingers wandering down Karim's spine, causing him to shiver. His legs began to wobble, and it felt as if they would soon give out. Yet, as he frantically looked around, he missed the guild members in the corner.