Who is the best?

"What are you doing with Aether?" Elara demanded, striding toward Daelano. Her steps were stiff, her exhaustion evident in every movement, betraying the tension beneath her calm exterior.

"I'm taking him to the infirmary," Daelano replied, cradling Aether in her arms with an almost theatrical grace. Her grip shifted subtly, one arm supporting his shoulders while the other hooked under his knees, as if she were carrying a fallen comrade—or a prize.

"Let him go," Elara said, her tone unwavering, though her eyes flickered to Aether's unconscious form.

"You're that girl, aren't you?" Daelano asked, her voice dripping with curiosity. With a fluid motion, she adjusted her hold on Aether, slinging him over her shoulder like a sack of grain as she closed the distance between them.

"What?" Elara replied, confusion flickering across her face. She took a half-step back, her instincts warning her of the danger radiating from Daelano.