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In my world, there are beings that are near immortal meaning that they will stop aging at some point and as long as they don't do anything really dumb called live for eons. Anything that doesn't blow up their body more than it can 'fix' itself, like explosions. Each people have abilities from their ancestors that are influenced by what they eat, so in truth, many people have abilities that others do not have. Now, here's the thing, I've been thinking about how to deal with learning your abilities in the game.

1. Learning by means of buying spells - Final Fantasy
I never did like this, because you can become way too powerful and it's hard to balance that way.

2. Learning things by means of automatically getting them - Final Fantasy
I am not so sure that is entirely out, but it takes you out of the world. Yes, you would have those abilities, but I would rather another way to learn abilities.

3. Trainers - Many WRPGs
A trainer would be able to give you side quests to learn new abilities, each character might have an elder or trainer, but again, I fear balancing...

4. A mixture of learning/trainers
Some abilities you learn on your own, while others you get from a trusted elder who gives you occasional side quests.

In case, you are wondering about the people, there are levels in which people's abilities are at... In this era of my game, what you eat as well, as your genetic, with environment does play a part in which abilities you learn along with clan. Meat, vegetables or nothing at all. But the question is what sort of way sounds better to learn from the list above?
1. Avatar/Gods
2. Genius, near the Gods
3. Average
4. Little or worthless abilities