The Ramshackle Files
Imagine Yuu Reader, who played smart from the very beginning and actually started documenting everything happening at NRC.
Not because she was some kind of mastermind. Not because she wanted revenge.
But because, after waking up in a coffin, being accused of trespassing, nearly getting blasted by magic multiple times, and then being told that her only housing option was a collapsing, haunted dormitory, she realized something very quickly:
No one here is going to look out for me except me.
And it's not like she was planning anything at first.
It started because she was tired.
Tired of people acting like the situation she was in was normal. Tired of hearing, "Well, that's just how things are." Tired of Crowley smiling at her like he's doing her a favor while she's sleeping in a dorm that's one strong gust of wind away from collapsing.
So when Cater helps her get a proper phone and set up a Magicam account, Yuu Reader starts recording things.
At first, it's harmless.
Videos of Grim trying to eat things that definitely aren't food. Ace getting detention. Deuce running after Ace because Ace got detention. The occasional dorm leader having a public breakdown.
Normal NRC activities.
But then she starts making private folders.
Folders nobody knows about.
Folders labeled:
Ramshackle Conditions.
Crowley.
Overblots.
Evidence.
Yuu Reader, whose phone quickly builds up with cold, hard proof.
Yuu Reader, who in her first week made a video tour of Ramshackle Dorm, showing off the broken windows, holes in the floor, dust thick enough to write your name in, and ghosts arguing in the background.
Yuu Reader, who within her second week records the food she's limited to, comparing the portions and quality to those of the other dorms.
Yuu Reader, who from that point onward starts keeping receipts.
Videos of Crowley promising he'll find a way home for her.
Voice recordings of Crowley promising he'll help.
Screenshots of messages from Crowley promising things will improve.
Promises.
Promises.
Months of promises.
Then the first Overblot happened.
Yuu Reader nearly died.
Several students nearly died.
The school suffered massive damage.
And afterward, everyone just...
Moved on.
There were consequences, yes. People talked about it. People worried.
But not enough.
Not nearly enough.
Nobody seemed concerned by how close everything had come to ending in disaster.
Nobody seemed concerned that a magicless teenager had somehow gotten dragged into the middle of it.
Yuu Reader begins adding it all to her growing video library, recording the Overblots one after another.
Then, one day, she posts the videos on Magicam.
To her surprise, they quickly blow up.
People are horrified to discover what has been happening behind the closed gates of NRC.
Yuu Reader locks her door and quickly starts a livestream, ignoring the flood of messages pouring in from her friends.
She starts crying in front of the thousands of people watching her, speaking about how Crowley kidnapped her.
The viewers watch as she shows off the dorm, making sure to highlight the mold, the crumbling walls, and the general state of neglect.
As she reads through the chat, she starts seeing messages from her friends telling her they want to talk.
Then Yuu Reader sees the comment she'd been waiting for.
The RSA Headmage offering to help her.
And, as a bonus, dozens of people saying they've already reported Crowley to the authorities.
Yuu Reader tries to hide her smile as she hears Crowley banging on the door, begging her to open up.
After all, Crowley ruined her life.
So would it really be fair for her to pay him back?
