Why do Link and Zelda never age?

Link and Zelda never age because they are trapped in a cycle of reincarnation, where they are reborn into new lives, allowing them to maintain their youthful appearance, and being sealed away in the series has always seemed to extend life, as seen in games like Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, where Link and Zelda are sealed away for extended periods of time, resulting in a magical barrier that prevents them from aging. This reincarnation cycle and magical sealing are the primary reasons behind Link and Zelda’s agelessness, making them appear youthful and vibrant throughout the Legend of Zelda series.

Understanding the Reincarnation Cycle

The Legend of Zelda Series

The Legend of Zelda series is known for its complex and intricate storyline, spanning multiple games and generations, with Link and Zelda being the central characters, and their agelessness is a key aspect of the series, allowing them to maintain their youthful appearance despite being reborn into new lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the current theory behind Zelda’s agelessness? The current theory behind Zelda’s agelessness is that the princess created a magical barrier between Hyrule Castle and the Great Plateau to prevent Calamity Ganon from hurting the outside world, which may have separated Hyrule Castle from the BOTW universe’s fabric of spacetime.
2. Are Link and Zelda always the same age? For the most part, yes, Link and Zelda are always the same age, as seen in games like A Link to the Past and Skyward Sword, where they are childhood friends who grew up together.
3. Why does Zelda look younger? Zelda looks younger because she is sealed in Hyrule Castle with Ganon, which has always seemed to extend life in the series, and she also gets sealed in a crystal for even longer in Skyward Sword.
4. How did Link sleep for 100 years? Link slept for 100 years after sustaining fatal injuries during the second Great Calamity, and Purah placed him in the Slumber of Restoration inside the Shrine of Resurrection to heal his wounds.
5. Is Link immortal in the Legend of Zelda? Yes, Link is immortal in the sense that he is reborn into new lives, but as a Hylian, he ages normally, and the problem is that most Links are different people.
6. What is the bad ending in Tears of the Kingdom? The bad ending in Tears of the Kingdom is not explicitly stated, but it is implied to be a dark and ominous ending, potentially resulting in the destruction of Hyrule.
7. How old is the oldest Link in Zelda? The oldest Link in Zelda is generally considered to be around 16-19 years old, as seen in games like Ocarina of Time and Skyward Sword.
8. Has Link ever killed Ganon? Yes, Link has killed Ganon in several games, including the original Legend of Zelda, where he defeats Ganon and saves Hyrule.
9. What does Zelda say when Link wakes up? Zelda says “Open your eyes…” when Link wakes up in Breath of the Wild, marking the beginning of the game.
10. What if everyone slept for 1,000 years? If everyone slept for 1,000 years, the planet would likely become a desolate and barren wasteland, with power stations shutting down, resulting in blackouts all over the world.
11. Was Zelda fighting Ganon for 100 years? Yes, Zelda was holding back Calamity Ganon for 100 years, but her power was growing weak, and Ganon was poised to come back again.
12. Why can’t Link talk? Link doesn’t talk in Breath of the Wild because he feels it necessary to stay strong and silently bear any burden, as stated in Zelda’s diary.
13. What is Zelda’s curse? Zelda’s curse is a result of Demise’s last wish, which was that of misfortune, doom, and evil upon Zelda and Link’s descendants.
14. Is Link canonically mute? No, Link is not canonically mute, but rather a silent protagonist, as no canonical game in the series has contained substantial spoken dialogue for him.
15. Does Zelda marry Link? No, Zelda and Link are never depicted marrying, and no Zelda is ever explicitly mentioned to be related to any Link as their mother or anything else.