You get more points as you level up. Hope this helped!
Indeed it does. So, if I have this straight, items are the only way to gain new actions, and auto-abilities?

This information would spoil the game for you. I assume you're continuing to play the game, you'll find out at about mid Ch 3 (I think). "What" the black mages are has to do with several characters in the game. It's a juicey tidbit, I don't want to spoil it for you.
Appreciated, although... how do you define the chapters? Not by disc # I assume...

Anyway, i get that they are somehow comprised of the mist... although since kuja supplys the mages, and is from the outer world I'm not sure how he would have them outside of the mist cintient, seeing as the outer continent is deviod of the mist.

I could be misunderstanding this aspect though.