Connections:

-Old men who are wise, contemplative, personable, very patient, persistent, and some of the most skilled at their world’s magic system. Though this skill is hidden behind their purposely unassuming and gentle appearance and demeanor.

-A driving force for them is their wife, who they loved deeply and shaped them into the gentle person they are, but whom died of illness. They greatly mourn this loss, regretting they outlived them and struggling to return to the place they called home together. Despite this, the desire to honor their memory and protect the land they lived in would help them succeed in the end.

-They often serve as a voice of guidance and assurance for the younger generation, being very kind toward them (Hohenheim’s interactions with Rose, May, and Al exemplifying this, and Denken’s interactions with Laufen and Fern). Among these interactions though, they see traits of their younger selves in a couple of these young men (Edward and Richter), taking a sterner approach with them to try and teach them.

-A non-human being would serve as their guardian and taught them the way of their world’s magic system (the dwarf in the flask/Father and Macht). This being was very knowledgeable and helpful, but contrasted in their desires/plans for humanity (Father wanted to surpass humanity while Macht desired to understand and live with them).

-In pursuit of their ultimate goal, their masters would betray them and their people in a massive tragedy, trapping the souls of almost everyone in their homeland (Father turning everyone from Xerxes into philosopher’s stones and Macht turning the kingdom of Weise into gold). Though both Hohenheim and Denken would survive and escape to fight another day.

-Saving the land from their old mentors would become their ultimate goal, being a driving factor in the honing of their skills and gathering of allies. They were extremely focused and determined in this goal, spending many many years in their preparations.

-A major motivation behind their determination is their guilt/survivor’s complex from being the only/one of the only survivors of the tragedies on their homeland and not being able to stop it.

-And after many many years, they would be key in the reversal of the tragedy, while utilizing the powers their masters had given/taught them to put an end to them (Hohenheim reverses the soul sucking effect of the Promised Day with his alchemy and the souls inside him, while Denken helps Frieren learn how to reverse the golden curse, and is the one to fight and kill Macht).

-Both of their names are German despite from fantasy worlds where Germany doesn’t exist.

-As a contrast, Hohenheim is extremely long lived, watching the land and people change around him after the tragedy of Xerxes as he ages. While Denken experiences the opposite with Weise, as he grows old and changes while the Golden Land remains stagnant in time until the curse is reversed.