There’s been an underlying tension in Caleb for a while now, sitting unresolved. The emotions he’s expressed of not understanding why he’s doing what he’s doing, the uncertainty about staying with the Mighty Nein, it hasn’t really been resolved. And it’s throwing a wrench in Caleb’s character growth, because he can revert back to keeping his distance from the party-- which he has been, think about how much he’s been staying behind-- after realizing that he cares about them too much for comfort.

Nott, on the other hand, has been following Caleb despite what it would mean for her for a while. Her end intentions are to get his help with her goals, yes, but she hasn’t been focusing on herself, really, for a bit. This is the first time since Molly’s death where their priorities have really diverged, and the first time they’ve diverged so much and with so much riding on them.

He’s set them up for one of two possibilities: Nott and Caleb could talk and then talk to the rest of the Mighty Nein, and this could bring Nott and Caleb closer to each other and the group closer as a whole, or this could all come to a head and Caleb could bail on the group with a lot of unresolved feelings and possibly lead to them being unable to save Yeza.