The Nightmare Witch replied somewhat hesitantly, "Sort of."
Much like the academy, the followers of the Old Gods also differentiate between "purebloods" and "mixed-bloods." In the eyes of pureblood followers, the residents of the underground city are not true adherents of the Old Gods; most of them came here to escape persecution, and by offering faith to the Old Gods, they gain the chance to live in the bottomless abyss.
These residents bear the title of followers of the Old Gods, yet apart from prayers, they never participate in the sacrifices.
However, unlike the academy's customs, pureblood followers do not despise these less pure believers. For a long time, the latter have sustained the normal operation of the underground city, and when the purebloods travel outside, they even invite people willing to believe in the Old Gods to settle here.
CatCat then whispered in Ethan's ear, "Most of the people here are residents of the Empire."
