Oh. Aha. Felix knows the sound of a man being hooked despite himself. It's not that Norn doesn't want to explore, he just needs to feel he has permission. Felix gives him a look of encouragement and approval.

"Essentially, yes. We can't have a realm like this so prone to impinging on our own with a few reliable people in place monitoring it, can we? That's far too dangerous. I know I would feel much safer with a partner assigned to help me study it."

Actually that might mean Jim also has a way to keep better track of him, but worry about that when it becomes a hindrance.