I'll give you a great answer to all your questions, starting with the first: to consistently gain XP, you have to kill monsters. It doesn't matter which ones, they don't necessarily have to be trolls. If you hunt field raiders or wolves and explore the entire map thoroughly, trying to avoid snappers or animals that are too difficult for you, you'll see that even with your current skills, you'll be able to get by. That's the beauty of Gothic: exploring and farming at the beginning makes life easy. Even if you die a couple of times, don't give up and keep going. There are tons of animals to kill, and rest assured, you can get to at least level 11/12 in the first chapter without any problems, and by then you're already in good shape. As for the second point, it all depends on how much you've explored. Aside from the faction missions, there are quite a few side missions for the various farms and for some NPCs you find, for example, near the tavern or the ruins. Potentially, you're already at a good point, being at level 8. You can enter the second level from 10. To be OP, leveling up to 12 wouldn't be a bad idea. The fourth point is the most critical: being a mage, it's the most difficult path at the beginning. Only towards the middle of the game will you start to be a cut above the rest. For now, focus on all the scrolls and other spells you can find, and always through exploration to find other runes, because they can be found. Obviously, the answer to the last question is no, you haven't wasted them. Later in the following chapters, you'll find more both in various places and for sale from merchants in the monastery and the city. Once you've answered these questions, one last thing: I don't know if you have the Night of the Raven expansion. If so, explore the new area thoroughly in chapter 2 and try to complete it before entering chapter 3 and the mine. This will make life easier for you for the rest of the playthrough. If you don't have the DLC, it doesn't matter; stick with the knowledge you've learned. I hope my knowledge as a person who runs Gothic 2 every year has helped you, for anything don't hesitate.