Daily Debate: Is the Hero’s Shade a Ghost?

The Hero’s Shade from Twilight Princess has a backstory that was formerly shrouded in mystery. Until Hyrule Historia was released, many people believed him to be the Hero of Time, and Hyrule Historia eventually confirmed this with this entry:

“The spirit of Link’s ancestor, the Hero of Time, teaches him his secrets. Ever since returning to the child era, The swordsman has lamented the fact that he was not remembered as a hero. This is the reason he passes down the proof of his courage and his secret techniques to the Link of this era, addressing him as ‘son’.”

Do you think the term “spirit” is referring to the Hero’s Shade as a ghost? Spirit is also a term that could refer to a divine being. Do you think he could be some sort of sage or god-like being? Perhaps the goddesses of Hyrule felt pity on Link when he returned to the child era, his heroic deeds forgotten, and granted him the power to be a guardian angel to the Link of Twilight Princess so he could pass on his knowledge? Do you think his ability to change from a wolf to humanoid form is also some sort of divine gift? Or is it some sort of ghostly transformation? He also has a more ghoulish appearance. Perhaps he is some sort of redead? A stalfos? Yikes! Let us know what you think in the comments!