The fifth year marked the halfway point, and with it came a total, almost extreme change in the kingdom's educational system.
Having reached this milestone, the midpoint of their education, young people entered a period of intensive preparation for adult life that they would attain at the year's end.
The shift was as dramatic as moving from childhood to adolescence.
This year's classes differed dramatically from previous years, focusing much more on practical application and social roles, leaving regular classes almost entirely behind. No more theoretical lectures about beast biology or historical battles. Now it was all about real-world application, about proving you could function in the complex machinery of the kingdom's social and political structures.
Once they reached sixth year, students would be considered adults with defined roles in society. Not only students anymore, but half-functioning members of the hierarchy.
