With that done Nona closed the door and securely locked it. He than envisioned a grate over all the balconies. He frowned at the distorted aestetic, but with how little here he did not want to leave an easy access to the palace.
"The walls will be stronger if there is more than an image of them here." The doppelganger comments.
Nodding Nona places a hand on the wall and calls up every hard thing he has ever encountered which mostly consisted of the cave walls. The wall felt more firm as he poured these memories into it. Satisfied with the results he closed his mental space and allowed himself to drift off to sleep.
***
Dawn's first rays of sunlight awoke Nona. For a moment he laid there enjoying the peaceful sounds of nature. The birds chirping in alarm and the crickets agitation as well as the aggressive hissing not to far off. It took a full minute for him to realize he was in danger.
It was at this time that searing pain shot up through his leg. Letting out a scream of anguish he grabbed the simple sword and swung it still sheathed at the unseen foe. The blade connected and sent something flying. Unfortunately, it had not dislocated from his leg causing even more pain as it took a chunk with it.
The pain was unbearable and Nona's vision began to darken. In desperation Nona called forth the image of of magic. Fire immediately left up for his use. Casting off all thought Nona called it forth to his hand and slapped the fire to his leg. He howled in agony as the smell of burning flesh filled the air.
As the pain subsided Nona finally registered the sound of fighting off to the right. He saw Aquiline slashing and biting at several snakes trying to attack him. Nona forced himself to focus through the fog in his mind to try and find a way to overcome this.
Knowing his leg was in bad condition and he would be unable to fight as he did last time he instead tried to beseech the earth. The results of last time already informed him of how difficult it would be but in his mind he had only one thought. He must protect Aquiline and himself.
Letting out a roar that no being had heard in centuries caused the entire area to fall silent. The ground trembled as it began to crawl up and over Aquiline forming a type of armor. Before Nona could focus on his he felt nausea and exhaustion roll through his body as he collapsed. He maintained consciousness as he watched the snakes scurrying away.
"Why didn't you tell me you could use dragon's roar?" Aquiline's voice chimed in his head.
"Dragon's roar? What is that." Nona weakly voiced out loud. He immediately regretted it as his throat felt like sandpaper. "I told you I just found out I am a supposed dragon. I have no clue as to what skills I can or cannot do. Let alone when I can do them." He reverted to his mental voice to save his throat.
"Well a dragon's roar is exactly what it sounds like. Very few creatures will dare face a dragon that is enraged." Aquiline's voice stopped as he took in the sight of Nona's leg. "You will not be able to walk on that for a while. Guess we should have had someone on guard duty."
"Well it's a good thing you can carry me." Nona cringed as a pulse if pain shot up through his leg as he moved to get his canteen. "As for the night watch I believe you have a point. If we would have done that than I would not be like this now." Nona let out a sigh of relief as the water from the canteen soothed his throat, but fear of the pain in his leg kept him on the ground.
"Well what are you waiting for? Hop on so we can get you to a healer." Aquiline couldn't keep the concern out of his mental voice. The burnt flesh smell had dissipated but the leg was black like charcoal hinting at problems to come..
"I am unable to move it due to the pain." Nona paused, "Do you think the venom is still in my leg?" Fear was starting to get the better of Nona and panic was beginning to set in.
"I believe that is unlikely. I am no expert but the fact of how much you've bled and the way you burned it should have removed it. Again we need to get you to a healer if you plan on keeping your leg." Aquiline was beginning to get frustrated.
"Well come over here and lay down. I will try and crawl on you back." Nona groans.
With an eye roll Aquiline complies trying to get as close as possible. Nona in turn grits his teeth and tries to crawl up the griffin's back. Every move sends excruciating pain shooting up his leg. Several times he had to stop and fight for consciousness. After dozens of minute pass Nona finally manages to get on. Fearing falling off Nona tries to call forth some magic to bind him to the griffin but the pain refuses to let him concentrate.
Aquiline slowly rises to his feet causing Nona to scream out in pain before going silent. In fear Aquiline turns his head to see the passed out body laying acrossed his back. Not knowing what else to do Aquiline uses the full range of his wings to try and hold Nona against him but knows any kind of speed will cause him to fall off. Turning his head in each direction Aquiline pinpoints where he is at and begins walking in a seemingly random direction.
"Stay with me Nona. I will get you to a healer in no time. Now if I can just recall that map." Aquiline whimpers to himself while trying to stay positive about the outcome soon to be facing them.