Weskin's Combo

Weskin, a boy of only twelve years old, knelt on the mats next to the other children in the dojo. The time was upon them for lessons. Each child had a wooden sword with them for training, laid on the floor beside them. Their teacher entered the room, a Sheikah of seventy plus years, his features rugged and well aged, his body strong despite, and a thick mane of white hair pouring down nearly to the floor. Stood before the class in his training uniform, he addresses the children. "Now, our lessons shall concern the ability to fight with one's spirit in balance. Now, who among you can tell me about balance?"

A little girl raised her hand. "Yes, Master Shiro! Balance is what we practice so we don't fall over when we run!" there were a few giggles in the room and the young Weskin smiled. Old Shiro gave a bit of a laugh himself, and then his face turned solemn. "Yes, indeed, Kaida. But the balance we'll be learning about today is not a balance of the body, but of the soul. Back when the world was young and not yet given form, the three Golden Goddesses descended upon and began shaping the realm. ...Hmm! Weskin, tell us who the three Golden Goddeses are."

Weskin squeaked a little at being called on, sat straight up, and stammered, "U-um... D-din of Power, Farore of Courage, and.... Nabooru of Wisdom, master Shiro." he managed. There was a quiet period following that, and more giggles, though these not so good natured as before. Shiro looked down at Weskin,s ighed, and continued. "Din, Farore, and -Nayru-, yes. You would do well not to forget the name of the goddess of wisdom." Weskin, feeling somewhat embarassed, stared at the floor while blushing as the master continued. "When the three Goddesses finished their work, they left the world behind and imparted guardianship of it to the goddess Hylia. They also left behind their treasures, each of which represented a great virtue. These three virtues were Courage, Wisdom, and Power."

Shiro began to pace as he continued. "Each is a great source of strength, but as the goddesses worked in concert, so too do these three virtues need to work in tandem. To do otherwise is to lose balance, and an unbalanced soul becomes prone to evils. Courage and Power without Wisdom is simply foolhardiness and arrogance. Power and Wisdom without Courage makes a man who is able to lead and bring prosperity in times of peace, but falters on tough decisions and where action is required. Courage and Wisdom without Power..." he falters for a moment. "...Becomes but a faint and false hope to be dashed down by a greater evil." He turns once again to the class. "And so you need balance of the soul to fully receive the blessings of the goddesses. Do you understand?"

There was a response from all the children. "Yes, Master Shiro." He snapped back at them, "No, I don't think you do." then softer. "You are but yet children, and this lesson is even lost on your elders at times. There is a great difference between understanding and thinking that you understand. I imagine it will take quite some time to truly impart this lesson to you all. With one's spirit in balance, you can find a great reservoir of strength within you. Today, I will impart to you one such technique, brought from the depths of the soul. The Trifold Strike! Let it be hewn into your minds!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8FJx7MWxnA

Shiro stood now before a training dummy, the class having risen to their feet and grasping their wooden swords. Shiro made a series of three strikes, each followed by a countercut. Six strikes in total, separated into distinct pairs. Then again. One two, one two, one two. "Observe my technique. I move in to strike three times. The Golden Goddesses, their Triforce, their golden Virtues... Following their example, we developed the Rule of Three. And when one's soul is in balance... your movements may become as three people, working in tandem."

He took a step back, and then his form began to blur. All of a sudden it appeared as if there were three Master Shiros, rushing the dummy at once. "Courage!" the first cried and made two cuts across the surface of the dummy. "Wisdom!" called the second and followed the technique up immediately. "Power!" bellowed the third, and made a clean set of cuts. The afterimages seemed to reconvene into Master Shiro, as he sheathed his blade. With a great splintering of wood, the dummy buckled, a triangle carved into its base, three strikes having separated it into a triangle made of more triangles. The symbol of the goddesses.

Weskin couldn't believe his eyes at the master's movements. Had there really been more than one of him...? Shiro did not give them much time to contemplate. "Now, pair up with your sparring partners, and practice weapon routines." "Y-yes Master Shiro!" came the response from the class as Weskin hurried to partner with Kaida.