Diacortus

Diacortus is celebrated in virtually every society on earth, though often in vastly different ways. All, however, celebrate it on the 18th birthday, and consider it the (last) day one will or will not inherit a phage.

To inherit a phage through diacortus, first a living mage must die during the 24 hours of your 18th birthday. Then, through the arcane process of inheritance, hopefully that phage chooses you. In practice, this means your chances are literally 1 in a billion, if a mage dies on your birthday.

Mages who inherit their powers (rather than duel for them) are considered holy by Latinists and unholy by Volivists