To give you the very short answer, ( but there is a very long one, lurking beneath his droll tone, ) yes, they are. And they prefer to be called 'knights' first and foremost.

( they, not we. martel is a puzzle of several kinds. )

But the magic you see me practise isn't native to that homeland, and fighting with it isn't something that's been necessary for a long time. ( and if that changed recently, it was his doing, and he has no interest in discussing anything he did in the last ten to fifteen years. better that way. he switches naturally between the two terms; 'magic' as a general concept, 'sorcery' as a description of his practise. ) I could. But I'd be better off - as you see.

( tilting the armor he'd been enchanting. he could throw a fireball - but it would be a waste. why not, instead, prepare to better arm himself? augment the skills he has, fulfill what needs he might, be ready for battle with an edge that can't always be readily explained. )

Many knights learn as much as is required to take their vows, and never touch it again.

( he wasn't one of those. that much should be obvious; you don't have to be deeply familiar with the secrets of styricum to recognise the natural way of someone who is very, very experienced with what he does, who no longer has to think about much of it. )