The number of springs that truly contain vitality is limited, and all of them combined can fit into a special container holding about two liters of liquid.
Even though the quantity is small, a single sip is enough to grant a lifespan increase equivalent to an entire human lifetime. If someone drinks directly from the stone platform, some of the energy will dissipate, causing this value to fluctuate, typically between fifty and seventy years.
However, the Fountain of Youth that Ethan has processed no longer has this issue. Now, with the refined spring water in his possession, a single sip, roughly the amount that fits in a bottle cap will consistently grant fifty years of vitality.
It's important to note that the Fountain of Youth restores vitality, not lifespan. There is a significant difference between the two.
After packing everything up, Ethan turned back for one last look at this place. He wasn't sure if he would ever return to the Caribbean world, but even if he did, he likely wouldn't revisit this exact location.
And because of his intervention, the Fountain of Youth would remain just an ordinary spring for quite some time, no longer drawing much attention. In a way, this also meant it would avoid being destroyed by the religious zealots from Spain.
"I wonder if that's a good thing?"
Taking Jack and Elizabeth with him, Ethan used the space energy within the pool to return to the dark and damp cave. Initially, he had considered extracting this space-time energy, but he soon realized that it was an integral part of the natural magic circle that governed this place. It couldn't be removed independently.
However, Ethan had already recorded all the details of this location in the Book of Inheritance. He could study the principles behind this simple teleportation magic at his own pace and eventually transform it into a separate spell that suited his needs. There was no point in wasting time trying to forcibly extract such a small amount of energy.
With that, nearly all of his objectives for visiting the Fountain of Youth had been accomplished. The remaining tasks could be completed anywhere, making it pointless to linger here any longer. His time in the Caribbean world was too valuable to waste.
As they emerged from the cave and made their way toward the seaside, Elizabeth curiously asked about their next destination.
"Next?"
Ethan calculated the time. Finding Blackbeard was no longer feasible, the remaining time wouldn't be enough to track down a pirate who wandered unpredictably across the vast sea.
But he couldn't let the remaining time go to waste, either. He couldn't just return to Port Royal and spend his days drinking tea and chatting with the Governor.
Leaving the Caribbean world immediately was also an option. It would save space-time energy, which he could then reserve for research, practice, or as an emergency backup.
But then, he suddenly remembered, there was still a treasure worth uncovering in the Caribbean Sea.
"Jack."
"What?"
"Do you know where Calypso is?"
Jack, who had been strolling ahead, suddenly froze. The smile vanished from his face, and he turned to Ethan with an unusually serious expression.
"Why are you looking for her?"
Then, as if recalling something, his face shifted into an expression of shock and suspicion.
"You're not really... that, are you?"
Judging from his expression, Ethan immediately knew Jack had misunderstood. He probably thought Ethan was some kind of angel on a mission to eliminate heretical gods, that everything he had done before was merely a cover for his true intentions.
"No, I just want to talk to her."
Ethan was deeply curious about Calypso's nature. According to the film's lore, Calypso was the Goddess of the Sea, possessing immense control over the ocean.
She could summon storms, lightning, and whirlpools at will, command sea creatures, and even govern the dead. Even while sealed, she was capable of resurrecting Barbossa, who had already died.
So what exactly was she?
Based on Ethan's knowledge, she seemed more akin to a nature deity, representing the ocean itself. But some descriptions made it sound as if she was a belief-based god, one whose existence was shaped by sailors' faith and fear of the sea.
No matter which was true, her abilities were undeniable. Ethan wanted to see her for himself and perhaps even steal something from her.
"So you're looking for Calypso just to... discuss magic?"
Jack still wasn't entirely convinced by Ethan's explanation. But in the end, it had little to do with him. Even if Ethan had other motives, it wasn't Jack's concern.
Besides, Ethan had offered a reward Jack couldn't refuse.
A small sip of the Fountain of Youth's water, brimming with vitality.
Just that tiny sip would grant Jack at least fifty years of vitality, allowing him to enjoy his adventures at sea for decades longer than the average person. And for a long time, he wouldn't have to worry about his physical strength deteriorating.
"A very tempting offer."
"So, what's your answer?"
What other answer could there be? Without hesitation, Jack downed the offered sip of the Fountain of Youth's water. At the same time, he carefully stowed away a small vial of the same water—this one for Gibbs.
Ethan had never been stingy with those who helped him. Though the Fountain of Youth was incredibly valuable, once he fully unraveled its secrets, it would become something he could mass-produce.
In fact, he already had a few leads. If he adjusted some of the ideas he had from that place, he could replicate a certain magic from his memory—Life Absorption. Or perhaps it could be called Life Siphon?
There were many versions of spells under that name, but they all served the same purpose, extracting life force from a living being to replenish one's own.
This spell wasn't recorded in Merlin's Book of Inheritance, but there was plenty of related information. In general, most variations of Life Absorption came with severe drawbacks or hidden dangers, making it an uncommon spell. Only a few truly mad magicians relied solely on this type of magic to prolong their lives.
Ethan had no intention of using such a crude method to obtain eternal life. This magic was, at best, an emergency measure. Instead of studying such an unstable spell, he would rather analyze the structure of the Fountain of Youth and understand how it naturally gathered vital energy from the world around it.
Watching Jack drink the water, Ethan also handed Elizabeth a sip. The young woman didn't yet grasp the true value of this water, but one day, she would understand what decades of vitality truly meant.
Right now, however, she was more intrigued by the other gift Ethan had given her.
A Colt Rattlesnake Revolver, complete with maintenance tools and a batch of bullets, a rare firearm from Ethan's collection.
In addition, both she and Jack received an amulet.
"What's this for?"
Jack examined the plain-looking charm in his hand. It was so unremarkable that, if worn around the neck, it could easily be mistaken for a random trinket picked up off the street.
"It could save your life."
Ethan pulled a Beretta from his ring, and without giving Jack any time to react, raised it and fired.
The deafening gunshot made both Jack and Elizabeth flinch. Jack, startled by Ethan's sudden action, was even more shocked to see a translucent blue barrier form in front of him. The bullet was completely stopped by the barrier and, after losing its momentum, fell harmlessly to the ground.
"Any attack of this nature will trigger the amulet's protective shield."
Nothing was more convincing than a direct demonstration. Jack immediately understood the true value of the amulet and carefully put it away.
He suspected that Ethan had done something to the amulet, perhaps using it as a tracking device to locate him. But that didn't change the fact that it was a life-saving tool. Besides, they had already agreed, Ethan would help him reclaim the Black Pearl, and in exchange, Jack would assist in finding the Fountain of Youth and Blackbeard.
Now that the Fountain of Youth had been found, only Blackbeard remained. It was only logical for Ethan to ensure he could track Jack down when the time came.
As for seeking out Calypso? That was a separate matter, the price for that was what Jack had just drunk. It didn't conflict with their prior agreement.
There was also another major reason Jack didn't object to carrying the amulet, his greatest fear: Davy Jones.
From everything he had seen and heard during his time with Ethan, Jack was certain that if Ethan wanted to, Davy Jones would no longer be a problem.
"Anyway, we're off to see Calypso. After that, I'm heading back."
Continuing onward, the three quickly returned to where the Black Pearl was docked. Gibbs, along with the fully armed crew, stood on alert, nervously watching their surroundings. Upon boarding, Ethan learned that Gibbs and the others had been startled by the gunshot he had fired earlier.
After a brief explanation to reassure them, Jack pulled Gibbs aside and handed him the small vial of water in secret, a gift for his most trusted first mate.
Watching Gibbs drink the water, Ethan noted that most of the key players in this adventure had now received their share of benefits. Gibbs himself was so overjoyed that he even asked Ethan what magical artifact they'd be searching for next, he was more than willing to serve Ethan if it meant another such reward.
"We're going back to the Caribbean, Mr. Gibbs."
This was Ethan's final journey before leaving. He wasn't planning to return to Port Royal, his next stop was Calypso, and from there, he would return to his own world.
"I hope you'll take Elizabeth back to Port Royal, Jack."
"Leave it to me." Jack didn't hesitate.
Elizabeth, for her part, didn't ask to continue following Ethan on his adventures. She had been away for a long time, her thirst for adventure was satisfied. Now, she just wanted to go home. She was beginning to miss the stability and comfort of her former life.
In short, she'd had enough.
And so, when Ethan left for Calypso, Elizabeth happily followed Jack back home.
(To be continued.)
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