[@LadyTale] hey quick question(s)

Its never described in detail but its obvious sword art had skills. Passive skills, likely, like kiritos dual wield.
Do players get stuff like that?
Can we have merchant skills? 
Can our characters, for example like me and Sif (if he gets accepted) start out a few levels higher. As a premade team they would have already ventured out and earned not only exp but more than a little coin/crafting skills.

Just curious! I'm happy with whatever.