In the vastness of the Enchanted Forest, before the curse that would crumble kingdoms and separate families, the absolute silence was only interrupted by the soft rustling of leaves and the distant song of birds. The night, always mysterious, seemed to hide ancient secrets within its shadows, but none was darker than the one that dwelled deep in the forest: the residence of Rumpelstiltskin, the Dark One.

The full moon faintly illuminated the winding path that led to the old tower where Rafael, the son of the master of shadows, lived. His amber eyes glowed intensely in the darkness, reflecting the power coursing through his veins. Rafael, still young, already felt the weight of the power inherited from his father, and the responsibility seemed overwhelming. Since he was small, everyone around him feared the extent of the gifts he possessed. However, what they feared most was something even he struggled to accept: his tendency toward darkness.

Rafael ran his fingers over the old grimoire resting on a carved wooden table, a gift from Rumpelstiltskin. The book was filled with ancient spells, incantations of unimaginable power. But Rafael didn't want to open its pages, not yet. He knew that once he began to follow in his father's footsteps, there would be no turning back.

"Magic always comes with a price," Rafael murmured to himself, echoing the words he had heard his father say countless times. But what would his price be?

That night, a greater force was calling him. He knew he could no longer delay what he was destined to do. With a wave of his hand, the candles in the room instantly lit up, bathing the space in a flickering golden light. His abilities were innate, natural, and the more he used them, the more he felt the power consuming him. Sometimes, it was like an uncontrollable current, pulling him into the depths of the unknown.

Rafael turned toward the window. The forest appeared calm, but he knew he wasn't the only one walking in the darkness. Rumors had spread that creatures of the night, beings that even the bravest warriors avoided, were stirring, as if they sensed something in the air. Perhaps it was a sign of change. Perhaps it was the impending curse that, like a shadow, hovered over the kingdom. Or perhaps it was him.

He knew the darkness was calling. He felt it in the roots of the forest, in the cold winds that blew through the trees, and, most strongly, within himself. The blood that ran through his veins was not ordinary. It was the blood of Rumpelstiltskin, a master manipulator, a cunning dealmaker, and, above all, a creature of darkness.

Rafael grabbed his black cloak and draped it over his shoulders. He was no longer a boy, no longer the passive observer of his father's schemes. It was time to make his own choice, to walk his own path – be it toward the light or the darkness.

As he crossed the tower's threshold, the cold night air hit him instantly. He did not flinch. Every step he took felt firmer than the last. In the distance, he could see the city still illuminated by the torches of the guards patrolling the walls. Fools, he thought, for no flame could keep away the darkness that approached.

He made his way toward the densest part of the forest, where few dared to tread. It was where the most powerful magic resided. There, creatures forgotten by time whispered in the shadows, and ancient secrets were etched into the oldest trees.

Rafael knelt at the base of a massive tree, its roots seeming to penetrate the heart of the earth. He knew what he was searching for. Something was buried there, something his father had hidden long ago. A power beyond comprehension, destined only for those brave enough to claim it.

With a soft murmur, he made the ground tremble slightly. The tree's roots shifted, revealing an ancient chest, sealed by powerful magic. Rafael hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of destiny in his hands. Opening that chest meant accepting his place in the world of darkness. But maybe, just maybe, he could control what lay inside.

With one last glance at the forest around him, Rafael extended his hand and touched the magical seal. A wave of energy surged through his body, and the chest slowly opened, revealing a golden glow from within.

And in that moment, Rafael knew his life would never be the same.

As the chest creaked open, Rafael felt an overwhelming surge of magic, more powerful than anything he had ever experienced. The golden glow was almost blinding, but he didn't look away. His heart raced as his slightly trembling hands reached inside the chest. His fingers touched the cold, delicate metal of a small dagger, with intricate runes carved into the blade.

The weapon shimmered with an otherworldly light, and its weight was surprisingly heavier than its size suggested. But it wasn't just the dagger itself that captured Rafael's attention—it was the ancient, pulsating power that emanated from it. Something alive, something watching and evaluating the young heir of shadows.

As he gripped it firmly, a voice whispered in his mind. It wasn't a normal voice, but something ancient and primal, from ages long past. "You have chosen me," it said softly, "or perhaps, it was I who chose you."

Rafael felt an immediate connection with the artifact. It was as if his destiny had been intertwined with the dagger's long before he was born. He didn't yet know what kind of power it possessed, but he knew it was the key to the future—and perhaps to his true purpose.

Suddenly, a strong wind swept through the forest around him, as if nature itself was responding to the release of the ancient magic. The trees bent, and the shadows around him seemed to come to life, dancing to the sound of an eerie, unknown rhythm. Creatures of the night, once hidden deep within the forest, now watched from afar, recognizing the awakening of a power far greater than they could face.

The voice spoke again, stronger this time. "The choice is yours, Rafael. The dagger is a tool, but the power... the power resides within you. Remember, the darkness never forgives those who hesitate."

Rafael looked around, the wind still howling, and the shadows moving as if they were part of him. He knew he stood on the edge of something monumental, something that would change not just his life, but the fate of everyone around him.

With the dagger in hand, he took a deep breath. The darkness called to him, and he knew that, one way or another, he would have to answer.