So, a sub-ability is produced by the link of two stats
For example,
Comeliness = Con x Cha
This means it starts at 1, when neither Con nor Cha have proficiency in it.
Then, if say Cha gets proficiency in Comeliness, Cha climbs one level, and Comeliness climbs also one level;
Then, in order to reach max level ( I e. Level 3 ), one needs to climb Con by one level...
Stats aren't like in dnd, they range from 0 to 5