Elias stood in the center of the Valmere Hotel's grand ballroom, its polished oak floors gleaming under soft chandelier light. The air was thick with the scent of cedarwood cologne and fresh roses arranged in crystal vases along the walls. Tall windows framed a city skyline at dusk, the fading sun casting golden streaks across the room. Mirrors lined one wall, reflecting Elias's lean frame, clad in a tailored navy suit with a crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the collar. His golden eyes, sharp despite the fatigue etched into his jaw, scanned the bustling crew. The earlier fight with Kaien lingered in his mind, a raw pulse of adrenaline he couldn't shake.