Netizen 1: [Foreign accent? An international friend!]
Netizen 2: [Runes are part of our intangible cultural heritage; should foreigners really partake?]
Netizen 3: [Is it cool? If not, I'm up next. I'm dying to snag a quick-fortune charm!]
Sensing the skepticism, DreamingHomeward quickly explained, "I'm Bruce Kim, and my great-grandfather went abroad last century."
Realizing he was straying from the point, I gently reminded him.
"Please, tell me what troubles you."
Bruce found his focus and shared his tale.
"Simply put, since my great-grandfather's time, my family has been frail, none living past 40. We've sought answers across the globe, but it's futile. Now, three months from my fortieth birthday, I weaken by the day."
After listening to his narratives, I sensed something odd about the situation. But what I didn't anticipate was the sudden influx of savvy individuals flooding the comment section.
Netizen 1: [Oh my god! You and your family are cursed? It sounds like a storyline plucked right from the pages of "Lantern of the Lost Spirits."]
Netizen 2: [The Under-40 Curse? In your case, you really ought to seek out the Quadragenarian Liberation Pearl!]