Do you still keep the skill level you get for free in Farglow when you choose your path? That goes into Whirlwind/Fireball/Poison Arrow?

How expensive are the skill upgrades, then? Are they instant, like purchasing any other item?

Oh, right, another thing. Does using the skill trainer require completing any quests? Or is that available right away? I know the other battle tower features have quests to do, which is why I ask. I'd put off doing them as well (especially since the bonuses they grant for completion don't seem all that monumental, given infinite resources), but skill trainer is pretty essential (for maxing Wisdom's limit).