About the skills and powers thing!

[SkyCri]

Powers are usually something not everybody can obtain. Not even through intense training.
A skill is something you obtain through constant practice and/or training.
Powers can be trained however, but not everybody's able to have some powers.
Like, not everybody can wield magic, not everybody can use soul purge, Templar surge or Vampiric drain

While sword fighting is a skill most everybody can learn..
Just like archery, cooking, dancing, sneaking, speech and pickpocket, etc.

Hope that answers the question for anyone who's wondering ; v ;