It was a day like any other - people woke up, ate their breakfast, started driving to a job, walking to a school, and just carried on with whatever routine they had.  However, the arrival of the Federation of Light from the vast space changed everything.

They didn't arrive in spaceships as we imagined an alien, more technologically advanced civilization would start their invasion on Earth. The truth was that they didn't even need ships to travel among stars.

The Federation's warriors sent to Earth could descend from the sky using their own strength. There were only a few of them, but even one was enough to bring the whole humanity under their will without giving any chance for retaliation.

Those warriors were called Starwalkers, one of the most powerful beings in the universe.

They looked the way we used to portray God in our movies; wise, elegant, with a bright aura around them and powerful. Very, very powerful, to the point of omnipotence. 

It took Starwalkers only two days to conquer the Earth. On the first day, they landed in front of the government buildings of the most powerful countries. They made sure that their arrival was as flashy as possible to serve as a testament to their capabilities. 

The one that came to the USA conjured bolts of lightning, which made the night bright as a day.

The one that arrived in China froze the sea and built a palace made of ice with towers so tall you could not see the tops.

The one that landed in Russia stomped the Earth making seven mountains emerged, each one more majestic than the other.

The one sent to Europe came with yellow winds. For a few hours, no one could see anything, but once the winds stopped, there was an archipelago of floating islands in the centre of Europe. Nobody understood how those islands float, it defied the law of physics.

Each Starwalker shared the same message." We wish you no harm. We came to make you join the Federation of Light. We'll teach you new technology and magic for the price of those gifted with Aether to join the ranks of our army. The resistance will do you no good, and it is entirely futile."  

In the beginning, the most powerful countries like the USA or China tried fighting back. They sent their armies, shot rockets, and even used nuclear arms. However, when their bullets disappeared, and all soldiers were knocked unconscious by the single wave of Starwalker's hand. It became apparent that the only option is to surrender.

The "Federation Associate" treaty was signed by representatives of each country with almost no casualties. The terms were simple and pretty beneficial, which was the second most crucial factor behind a fast surrender. The first one was obviously an overwhelming military advantage. The whole treaty signed with the Federation of Light could be narrowed to the following 3 terms: 

The Planet Earth is now part of the Federation,

The Federation will share their technology and magic by creating 4 academies on Earth.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

All humans above 4-year old that have Aether roots will have to undergo the Aether training and join the Federation of Light army.

The federation spaceships finally came on the 3rd day when winners of the invasion were already known with traders, teachers, and engineers onboard. The Federation was in a hurry to initiate the search for those gifted with Aether and get their training started. Rumours said it was all part of the war a preparation, a conflict on a scale and between powers that is hard to imagine for Earthlings.

'I think we have a new record in the Milky Way system,' said with a faint smile a tall, blond-haired Starwalker that landed in Europe.

"It usually takes four days to achieve a complete surrender like yesterday. We might be getting better and better at this, especially that lightning show from Master Duke must have left an impression." He added and chuckled as he became very pleased with himself after saying that.

"You know very well that I am not a huge fan of this assignment," replied Master Duke with cold glimpses in his eyes. "I'd rather study the Aether or teach my Padawans. If not for the promise of getting a new batch of talents from this God-forsaken planet to my Sect, I would not be part of this circus, Master Szadek," he continued.

"Relax, relax, anyway, regardless of sect, we serve the same Order." replied Master Shadek and started to get serious." We, the ones on the Light side, have to be united and do not quarrel about who gets more disciples." he finished.

"That's easy for you to say. For the last 3 cycles, your Academy had priority in receiving more disciples." Replied Master Due. "It seems that upper Echelon is foreseeing troubles since they are more and more focused on training new Voyaks" sighted Master Duke." Fewer and fewer resources are spent on my Academy of Arts and deepening our understanding of the Aether." complained the master of lightning.

"That's exactly a kind of thinking that makes you still be on the 3rd-grade mastery level. That's two whole levels below me even though we started in the same year, almost 400 hundred years ago." Said blond Starwalker with evident pride. He was the most outstanding talent of his generation, and boasting was his most significant drawback" However, right after he got more serious and added with a strange gleam in the eyes, 

"The Aether requires you, as a person, to get deeper. That is not something you can achieve by doing just research at the Academy."

"Right" cut the discussion Master Duke and rolled his eyes, not wanting to continue what he believed was a pointless discussion.

"I am curious, however, what kind of talents this planet will produce. Do you know who is in charge of the recruits' trial this time?" asked Master Shadek.

"No idea. I am fine with whoever it is as long as it is not me," replied Master Duke and shook his shoulders. Then, as if afraid that his fellow Starwalker will continue the conversation, he made a circle like a move with his hand and disappeared with a flash of blue light.

'I guess it was too much to expect the "May the Aether be with you" farewell.' Thought Shadek to himself and yet again found his thought amusing. 

He looked in the distance, and his eyes seemed to pierce through the clouds and stare at something infinitely far away.

"Yes, the Aether is becoming more and more chaotic. My dear earthling's recruits, you are joining the Federation in the most interesting of times." He said out loud and then added with a hint of a laugh, 

"May the Aether be with you" and disappeared suddenly. For a while, the wind was blowing a little bit stronger to calm down a few seconds later. Nobody would be able to tell that just a moment ago, two master level Starwalkers were standing here and having a conversation.