[ycleption]

The time I spent away from battle has been very productive. After years of meditating, strengthening my mind, I am so close I can taste it, to achieving the perfect purity of mind my master spoke of... I have built the foundation through meditation of holding my mind apart from all that wishes to harm it, and when I sit alone and focus, I am able to do it correctly. Now I just need to practice enough to be able to slip into that frame of mind in the middle of combat, and maintain it. It is a tricky thing, embracing many things at once: letting hostility wash over me like water, keeping my focus with the purity of a burning flame, and simultaneously letting my mind evade attacks like the wind, but holding firm against them as a mountain... and above all, trusting in myself, being aware of my own consciousness.

Little by little I'm gaining mastery of the technique. A few times, I've reflexively slipped into the mode during battle, I just can't do it consistently. Perhaps if I practice against something that uses mind attacks, I'll be able to perfect the technique.