# Hekonai #14

By [CryptoAni.me](https://paragraph.com/@cryptoanimedao) · 2022-09-13

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For a blissful moment, I was bathed in light.

![Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/1591940f9edcd369a4fef3d2ac87e31bcf083a2946e13e3262e938e4bc5669ee.png)

Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿

Then I emerged into what looked like a gothic castle, only it wasn't stone like castles from my world. It was all flat, slick black panels.

![Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/4d4fd88d5fadeb62d4b44796fac25e890fde9a38c0a40cbef9f3be3767ceb48e.png)

Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿

![Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/34c437dbb43d10e21f923ace1c5052fd0f08ada694dc4cae0717f6c7d38f6277.png)

Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿

I reached out and touched one. It rippled, dissolving into 1's and 0's. I snatched my hand away and was shocked when the panel reformed itself.

![Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/0774439573a9aa07a5a120fd270d80a180eb8fd8870941c9761f11496cd920ca.png)

Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿

"We're losing time, Hekonai," said a quietly intense female voice nearby.

![Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/eac697dd7e31938f30dc6f9478a69eba5b3b390228c1ed461ea16398dcd7c2f3.png)

Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿

I drew my sword and looked up. A ghostly woman in a grey gown emerged from the darkness before me. She didn't seem to walk. She floated.

![Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/b9ea988097f1f549a36fe23ec7eaf4789062e774bc7a9e9bf78fbe0e432d376b.png)

Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿

![Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/570e4a111f3cbd1c7fefdadbd744d80e4062d7db27b37c82532a0e4b79755e62.png)

Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿

I asked if this was CryptoAnime. She nodded, introducing herself as Animod. I asked how I could trust her, asserting that the MetaVerse is full of danger. She raised her hand and my sword floated back into the sheath on my side!

![Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/b80d2d1d952e45977e873da1ca4bd4ee541e10ebfa391a3a240ed5a681e90e41.png)

Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿

Animod said "To move forward, we must establish trust." She added it was too late for either of us to turn back.

![Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/24b23be45f1ee7adad6d1cbc5491e825fe219e7c2777846cbd4c44f4e5553251.png)

Illustration by Abdelbasset kouba 🇩🇿

I fell silent under her cool gaze. I chose my next words carefully. I feared they might be my last.

I decided to be direct. I said "Give me a reason to trust you."

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[https://mirror.xyz/cryptoanimedao.eth/Umuj3Up40p4gx9r-fGoOm7TBhdZFBi61mJGdMuCClH8](https://mirror.xyz/cryptoanimedao.eth/Umuj3Up40p4gx9r-fGoOm7TBhdZFBi61mJGdMuCClH8)

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**The Hekonai's Journal** is an ongoing meta-narrative. If you want to learn how it came to be, check out the introduction post by clicking [**here**](https://mirror.xyz/cryptoanimedao.eth/Kqx2WGy6yeTxUNEFloZyBJNMzG-HY-qjSn5sF5TQHvo)**.** If you want to read from the very first post #0, click [**here**](https://mirror.xyz/cryptoanimedao.eth/5iAMrCM5CEnvK9v5kI_Q-XPrdDeI2ZFb81vITelNcIU)**.**

**Into the Hekonai Journal** is a hub aggregating all the published entries for your convenience. You may access this hub by clicking [**here**](https://mirror.xyz/cryptoanimedao.eth/s8U2CFeXyXVL1DmODn4z7ZN4U0KfZ-gmeLOrne22YFg).

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*Originally published on [CryptoAni.me](https://paragraph.com/@cryptoanimedao/hekonai-14)*