For a year, Karlvin was allowed to venture through the streets of his Uncle home-city. To deliver mail and parcels, collect the same, and any other tasks that surely a mule and a wagon should attend to, but it was only his back was tasked to complete.
But now free out of the property of his Uncle's now, while he was doing his bidded labour, while studying inside, he fell into fast comradeship with a street gang (ie. wilderness tribe of barbarians/rangers/druid that was transitioning into a city-based mercenary group ... like nature hippies of elves and half-elves becoming a military force for hire)
He found allyship with the gang, pulling off small crimes of stealing, intimidating other street gangs, and other such unlawful pursuits with the gang. They appreciated his knowledge of the arcane, specifically since they had a rival gang mostly made of wizards' apprentices. Such shared knowledge allowed them to guard themselves and harass the rival gang. So grateful were his own gang, Karlvin was made a full member of the tribe. Made a full brother/son of the tribe. Told the stories that tribe kept alive when they were only of the forests. Partaking in the ceremonies of ancient rites.
But when a big street brawl with rival gang spilled over into the main streets of the markets, and the city guard had to subdue both gangs. Many were jailed, and Karlvin was one of them. When his uncle found out Karlvin was responsible harming many apprentices of the Mage Guild, and the guild paid off the law so apprentices were in a street gang of their own.
His uncle knew there was no way Karlvin could fulfill his dream, that his adopted ward would be a High Mage of the Mage Guild, with this arrest attached to his and his adopted ward's name.
His uncle 1st made it official, unadopted Karlvin with the speed that would put celestial shot arrows to shame. His uncle arranged for Karlvin be sent to the Naval Academy, a military school for the punishment. Not that his uncle wanted to spare Karlvin from jail. But that the school had a friend of the uncle's. A teacher at the school would make sure his time at the school would be worse then jail. Worse then hell itself.
No matter how hard Karlvin tried to make his presence small and unnoticeable, or try to be the best student he could be. He could escape punishment. From extra drills, extra exercise into a state far beyond exhaustion. Humiliation upon humiliation were cast upon him, for the smallest slip ups, but most for made-reasons of the teacher. No other student ever tried to aid him, or become a friend with him, out of fear of being swept up into his punishments.
After half a decade of schooling, and half a decade of Naval service, where his tasks were even more exhausting and/or humiliating then his time at the academy, he was released from duty.
HIs uncle had died from drinking himself to death on wine. And with the money/bribes from his uncle no longer being sent to the Navy to keep up with his punishment. He had an official Naval letter detailing he was released from his duties to the Navy.
He questioned not how/why he was released. Perhaps save the one, those who were taking money/bribes wanted him gone from the Navy. Less likely there will an investigation launched where the money was coming from and who in the Navy such bribes.
He just ran away from the city his Uncle lived and died in, the school, and the Naval base he had been sent too.
Now a man with more scars inside his heart then he had on his body, he seeks work as a clerk or dock hand with a river boat shipping company. Hoping to put as much time and distance of his horrid life so far, that had be ruled so cruelly by his uncle.
