What REALLY irks me is that the gboard keyboard on Android is context-sensitive. No, I don’t want to have a shortcut for “.com” when long-pressing the period key while typing an address, I want to type a fscking dash!

You increase your alchemy skill, either via enchanted gear, an alchemy potion, or both. I don’t know if it still works on newer releases, but it used to be a thing to cheese the crafting system by making an alchemy potion, drink it, make a better alchemy potion, rinse repeat. Then once it’s high enough you make powerful smithing and enchanting potions and then use those to craft gear (rings, gloves) to permanently enhance your crafting.