Mage pet question

[Machone]

Thinking about making a mage. First time with the class.
They have lots of research pet. Im use to just buying spells from vendors or players.
With Blue being low on population I dont want to risk making the class and not being able to get my spells in EC.
Is research the only way? Anything else do I need to know?
If its research (I never leveled that skill before) is it easy? Very difficult? Worth it?
Or should i just skip to Ench, which i was thinking about aswell haha
Thanks in advance!