need advice on startin up.

[Huntress]

I find that mage level really well on plant monsters, personally I usually max firebolt first and go mandragora > flora > geographer. Geo are good enough exp to level there until your job change. Keep your stems from mandragora/flora, offer them on main they usually sell at least 1k each to alchemists.

After you make your merch I'd suggest you to do fishing quest with it, knight have low sp, so those fishy will come in handy.

I never leveled a knight before, but I've heard high orcs and Isis were good spot to train in the days, it's most likely with all the new maps that there are better spots nowadays.

There's no "rental" npc I think, but Kafra rents cart, and there is a peco peco breeder northwest of Pront.

Best of luck to ya!