User blog comment:ShinShinTo/After watching Fairy Tail episode 167, I wonder.../@comment-5481363-20130202162438/@comment-220.255.1.78-20130203145522

Magic has no logic as far as i'm concerned. His magic could have been lost/ taboo magic like Tetsuryuu said but it could also be to keep the identity of the magic as closelid as possible. People unable to know his magic doesn't mean some more powerful wizard can't. Makarov is one of the Saints- he might easily tell what's the magic used. Regardless, Ivan's all about secrecy.